Derby RFC

Seniors 2011/12 Match Reports - 2nd XV

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29th Jan'12: Derby 2nd XV 12 - 22 Rugby Lions 2nd XV

Awaiting match report though click on the following link to view the photograph gallery from the Derby 2nd XV v Rugby Lions 2nd XV game.

21st Jan'12: Market Rasen 2nd XV 00 - 53 Derby 2nd XV

Derby hit fifty in Lincolnshire

After last weeks heroics at Leicester Lions Derby were back to pennant league action in Lincolnshire as they travelled to take on Market Rasen.

Derby took control of the game from the off and quickly opened the scoring through a Dan Hutchinson penalty. With strong running from the forward pack punching holes in the Rasen defence and some good supporting play Derby were able to fashion several scoring opportunities and scored three first half tries. Firstly following several strong carries from Wilson, Brown and debutant Charlie Cutting the momentum slowed until the forwards created an effective driving maul allowing wing Mike Johns to burrow over the line, Hutchinson converting. Then when Rasen failed to find touch with a clearance kick Derby were able to attack once more. The ball was transferred to the right wing where Ryan Milton eased in at the corner. The third score came from further strong running creating holes in the Rasen midfield where centre Phil Maddocks exploited a hole to put left wing John Lewis in under the posts.

Despite a useful halftime advantage Derby needed to ensure that they played with the same intensity in the second period as they had in the first.

With Wilson, Griffiths and Brown carrying deep into Rasen’s half Derby secured a bonus point when Milton was able to step inside the full back for his second try of the afternoon. Shortly after this the forwards executed a perfect catch and drive enabling Chris Brown to dive over. With Market Rasen looking at damage limitation Derby added three further scores.

Scrum half Tom Kirkby showed good strength to force his way over from the base of a ruck despite the attentions of two defenders. Brown took a deft pop in midfield and sprinted forty meters for his brace and finally centre Mike Rollason despite having taken a knock took a pass and rounded the covering defender to score Derby’s eighth and final try of the afternoon. Hutchinson added five conversions to his early penalty for a personal tally of thirteen points.

Derby: Milton, Johns, Rollason, Maddocks, Lewis, Hutchinson D, Kirkby, Erwin, Griffiths, Cutting, Wilson, West, Sewell, Delaney, Brown C. Replacements:
Tries: Johns, Milton (2), Lewis, Brown (2), Kirkby, Rollason
Conversions: Hutchinson (5)

Report by Phil Maddocks

7th Jan'12: Ilkeston 2nd XV 14 - 10 Derby 2nd XV

Ilkeston snatch unlikely last gap victory

After several weeks off due to a combination of opposition cry-offs and the Christmas period Derby’s first encounter of the new year was against local rivals Ilkeston in the NLD pennant league.

Playing with the stiffening breeze in the first half Derby carved out several chances breaking through the Ilkeston midfield. However their efforts yielded only one uncoverted try through Colt wing Callan Watson. They were disallowed two scores with the referee unsighted and were held up on numerous occasions through stout Ilkeston defence, Ilkeston infringements and poor decision making. At this point Ilkeston should have had at least one man in the sin bin for repeated offences on their own try line however they survived the pressure and spurred on by this escape dealt a sucker punch when on only their second visit to the Derby twenty two the forwards sucked in Derby defenders allowing a score on the right wing. The tricky conversion was added well through the swirling wind and against the run of play Ilkeston led 7 – 5 at the interval.

Needing to hit back Derby provided the perfect start when the ball was turned over in midfield and went through three pairs of hands for the other Colt wing Jake Roome to stride into the corner. The conversion proved too difficult but Derby had regained the lead.

Ilkeston used the wind well to try and pin Derby back but the still the vast majority of the attacking threat came from the men in Black and Amber. They created and spurned several further chances through poor handling and effective defence from the Ilkeston side. Unable to kill the game off and put themselves out of sight the scene was set for the second and decisive sucker punch from the home side who took a driving maul fully thirty meters over the Derby line to score with just two minutes remaining. Again the Ilkeston kicker was equal to the conversion and the home side had snatched an improbable victory.

Derby: Kirkby, Watson, Walter, Maddocks, Roome, Worthington, Greenhalgh, Erwin, Reid, Martin, Wilson, Watkins, Brown C, Lewis, Sparkes. Replacements: Griffiths, Rollason
Tries: Watson, Roome

Report by Phil Maddocks

3rd Dec'11: Paviors 2nd XV 34 - 10 Derby 2nd XV

Lacklustre Derby concede six as Paviors stroll to victory

After last weeks hard fought victory Derby were looking to firmly establish themselves as contenders for the pennant league title when they visited another top three side in Paviors.

The first half was evenly fought with Paviors having the advantage of the slight breeze. Derby started well and had several chances to score following several penalties that were kicked to the corner. However they were repelled by Paviors who opened the scoring following some well executed three quarter play allowing the wing to evade two tackles to score. Derby hit back when scrum half Stefan Greenhalgh was able to burrow his way over for an unconverted try.

Derby had matched Paviors for almost the entire first half when with moments remaining until the break Paviors found an overlap on the left to put the other winger away and increase their advantage to 12 – 7 at the break.

Having defended well against the wind Derby looked to up the tempo and push play into the Paviors half in search of victory. Unfortunately they produced their worst half of rugby this season and with Paviors producing some flowing attacking moves, aided by some ordinary Derby tackling the game was out of reach after the hour mark. Derby did score the first try of the second half, Lewis Thompson finishing well after the backs created an overlap on the left.

From then on Paviors took over scoring a further four second half tries with one successful conversion. Derby defended doggedly in patches but found the task even harder when Thompson was shown a yellow card midway through the second period. Derby were well beaten by the better side and on this showing Paviors look strong contenders for the pennant league one title.

Derby: Kirkby, Brelsford, Hutchinson D, Maddocks, Thompson, Swainston, Greenhalgh, Erwin, Griffiths, Martin, Down J, Sewell, Brown C, Delaney, Lewis. Replacements: Mason-Moore, Watkins
Tries: Greenhalgh, Thompson

Report by Phil Maddocks

26th Nov'11: Derby 2nd XV 20 - 13 Newark 2nd XV

Derby win hard fought contest

After a spare week with no game the previous week Derby entertained Newark in a clash between two of top three teams in Pennant League 1.

Newark started brightly and were rewarded early on with a penalty kicked by the outside centre. Newark looked dangerous with ball in hand in broken field however it was Derby’s backline that fashioned the games first try. Following good recycling by the pack the ball was swiftly transferred from right to left for wing Ryan Manning to score. Matt Down converted for his first successful kick of the afternoon. Shortly after he added a penalty from in front of the posts after Newark were penalised.

Newark hit back to level the scores when their forwards caught a line out and drove the ball twenty meters for the score. The scores were level at the break when the conversion was added, again by the outside centre.

The second half was played mainly in the Newark half with the wind behind Derby enabling them to push the ball into the corners and force Newark to play out. Newark were still dangerous with ball in hand, typified by a handful of dangerous counter attacks from their own twenty two.

Derby extended their lead when they executed a blind side scrum move enabling opposite winger Chris Brelsford to score in the corner. Down added a difficult conversion and then added another penalty from 40m to give Derby a ten point cushion. Newark remained dangerous and from another sweeping move they earned a penalty which was duly converted to bring them to within seven points.

Despite late pressure Derby were unable to add any further points however they had just done enough to win a tight contest.

Derby: Kirkby, Brelsford, Saffell, Maddocks, Manning, Down M, Greenhalgh, Erwin, Wilcox, Martin, Down J, Sewell, Brown C, Reid, Turner. Replacements: Glover, Hutchinson E, Lewis, McCartin
Tries: Manning, Brelsford
Conversions: Down M (2)
Penalties: Down M (2)

Report by Phil Maddocks

12th Nov'11: Broadstreet 2nd XV 07 - 12 Derby 2nd XV

Defence proves key as 2s record good away victory

After last weeks bun fight at Ashbourne the seconds stepped up several levels travelling to Coventry to face Broadstreet. The corresponding fixture last season had resulted in a resounding fifty point defeat for Derby so there would need to be a vast improvement from the previous week.

Broadstreet started strongly and pushed Derby back through strong forward running and aided by several Derby infringements. Derby held out defensively and began to work themselves into the game. Callum Martin was yellow carded for stopping the Broadstreet player from taking a quick penalty. Broadstreet then had an opportunity to open the scoring with the simplest of penalties however somehow the Broadstreet fly half, to his own bemusement, managed to drag the kick to the left of the posts.

Broadstreet had the upper hand in possession and territory but crucially Derby’s pack were gaining the upper hand at the scrummage and through driving mauls from the lineout. Derby delivered a counter punch a minute before half time when Stefan Greenhalgh kicked a penalty to the corner, the forwards drove on and James Reid applied the final touchdown. Greenhalgh added the conversion and Derby had snatched the half time lead.

The second half was much more even and Derby continued to use their increasingly effective driving maul. Derby lost debutant hooker Griffiths to a yellow card for a late tackle followed by a yellow card for the Broadstreet loose head prop. When restored to the full complement of fifteen Derby effected another catch and drive which the forwards drove over and Griffiths applied the touchdown.

The final quarter of an hour was constant Broadstreet pressure. The Derby defence was rock solid with crucial turnovers or penalties won to relieve the pressure. Finally Broadstreet made their territorial advantage count when Derby ran out of defenders and Broadstreet used the overlap for their left wing to score and with the added conversion the game was again in the balance.

In the last four minutes Broadstreet threw everything at the Derby line but again the Derby defence put in some superb tackles to keep the home side out. Adam Glover received Derby’s third yellow card of the match for stopping a Broadstreet maul illegally but despite this and some last gasp pressure Derby held out to the final whistle.

Derby: Kirkby, Brelsford, Saffell, Maddocks, Stringer, Hutchinson, Greenhalgh, Erwin, Reid, Martin, Turner, Glover, Brown C, Down J, Delaney. Replacement: Ruggins, Manning, Griffiths, Watkins, Sewell

Tries: Reid, Griffiths

Conversions: Greenhalgh

Report by Phil Maddocks

5th Nov'11: Ashbourne 2nd XV 10 - 32 Derby 2nd XV

Derby win despite red card

Derby triumphed in a niggly and fiercely contested local contest which saw Derby reduced to fourteen men when Lewis Thompson was shown a straight red card for retaliation.

Despite dominating the first half in terms of territory and possession Derby struggled to build any sort of advantage. On a tiny playing area there was insufficient width to bring their wingers into the action regularly and the congested midfield area was hotly contested. Derby did manage two first half tries through flanker John Down and prop Paul McCartin, both following strong forward work. Ashbourne replied with a solitary long range penalty. After half an hour Derby were reduced to fourteen men when Thompson received his marching orders for aiming a punch at an Ashbourne player in retaliation.

Shortly after half time the game was back in the balance as the Ashbourne fly half exploited a gaping hole in Derby’s inside defence to score a converted try underneath the posts. Derby were becoming frustrated as the lack of clear refereeing of the breakdown area played directly into Ashbourne’s hands and denied Derby any sort of structure or increased tempo. However despite drawing level and with a man extra this was as close as Ashbourne got as the superior quality of the Derby side eventually began to tell.

Phil Robinson regained the lead for Derby with a blind side break and then following some forward pressure replacement Tom Taylor-Dawes grounded the ball following a push over. Derby were awarded a penalty try for Ashbourne infringement and then Down completed the scoring with his second try speeding over in the corner. Tom Kirkby added one conversion during a second half that saw late Ashbourne pressure and a couple of typical local Derby flair ups.

Derby: Saffell, Brelsford, Thompson, Maddocks, Stringer, Swainston, Robinson, McCartin, Erwin, White, Wilson, Sparkes, Brown C, Down J, Tilford. Replacements: Taylor-Dawes, Greenhalgh, Kirkby, Walter

Tries: Down J (2), McCartin, Robinson, Taylor-Dawes, Penalty.

Conversions: Kirkby

Report by Phil Maddocks

22nd Oct'11: Market Bosworth 2nd XV 12 - 69 Derby 2nd XV

Fifty up again as 2s hit the road

A visit to the fixture pool saw Derby travel to Leicestershire to take on Market Bosworth 2s. There were plenty of changes to the side with Keith Mason-Moore coming into the front row alongside Erwin and Taylor-Dawes. Watkins, Johnson and colt Jake Barker started in the pack and Walter, Kirkby and Manning all starting in the backline. Josh Pearson and Mark Such took their place among the replacements.

Despite a strong opening ten minutes from the hosts playing with the breeze and down the slope Derby soon began to take control. Ash Stringer barged his way in the corner to opening the scoring swiftly followed by scrum half Tom Swainston outpacing the defence to score. A dummy and third try followed for Phil Maddocks and Derby suddenly had a 19 point lead, Saffell providing two conversions.

Bosworth responded well catching and driving a lineout that enabled an unconverted touchdown but Derby hit back straight away when Maddocks and Down put Stringer away for his second score. Derby managed a fifth just before half time when the forwards showed their own muscle when they drove a lineout from the twenty two enabling Mason-Moore to apply the touchdown. This left the half-time score at Market Bosworth 5 – 29 Derby.

Despite never really getting out of first gear and with some sloppy mistakes creeping into their performance Derby still added a further six second half tries. Firstly Liam Walter burst through a couple of tackles to score which was cancelled out by Market Bosworth crashing over under the posts. Ash Stringer then added his third score, barging over in the corner, closely followed by his fourth after beating three defenders.

Tom Kirkby turned a dangerous Bosworth kick into a ninth try running back fully seventy meters and outstripping the cover to go over untouched under the posts. Olly Saffell added two final tries in the last ten minutes the second a good break to round the full back. Scrum half Tom Swainston added five second half conversions to complete the afternoon’s scoring.

Derby: Kirkby, Manning, Saffell, Walter, Stringer, Maddocks, Swainston, Mason-Moore, Erwin, Taylor-Dawes, Down, Watkins, Barker, Johnson, Lewis. Replacements: Pearson, Such
Tries: Stringer (4), Swainston, Maddocks, Mason-Moore, Walter, Kirkby, Saffell (2)
Conversions: Saffell (2), Swainston (5)

Match Report by Phil Maddocks

15th Oct'11: Derby 2nd XV 47 - 20 Matlock 2nd XV

First half display proves decisive as 2s defeat local rivals

Back in pennant league action Derby welcomed old adversaries Matlock to Haslams on a fine autumn afternoon. Derby’s first half display was to prove decisive as they scored five tries to give them a healthy halftime advantage.

Stefan Greenhalgh was the first to take advantage when a Matlock scrum under their own posts was disrupted and the ball squirted loose over the Matlock line. Dan Hutchinson added his first following some solid recycling and several forward drives with Hutchinson burrowing over next to the posts. Shortly after he added his second, strolling in on the right when Derby had stretched the Matlock cover leaving them short of defenders. As always Matlock never give up and they had some lengthy spells of possession in the Derby twenty two even being held up over the line on one occasion. One penalty attempt rebounded out off on upright but a second was successful to narrow Derby’s lead. It looked like further pressure would pay dividends until Derby full back Olly Saffell tackled the Matlock ball carrier and carried him fully twenty yards away from Derby’s line to avert the danger.

Derby regained the initiative and scored a two further tries before the break. Firstly the forwards tried to rumble over the line before Greenhalgh stretched to score his second. Then following some good attacking breaks and some solid Derby recycling Greenhalgh turned provider with a nicely weighted chip down the blind side which sat up perfectly for wing Ash Stringer to run onto and score. Hutchinson added four first half conversions to give the home side a 33-3 halftime advantage.

The second half was a much more even contest with Matlock upping their effort and Derby struggling through some enforced changes in the forwards. Matlock scored two quick fire tries at the beginning of the half one through the forwards and another using an overlap on the right to send the winger in at the corner. Derby struggled to find any fluency but managed a counterattacking score nearly the length of the field with James Reid scampering in from the Matlock ten metre line. With errors creeping into the play of both sides and possession being surrendered cheaply Matlock scored a third try when the left wing was able to stretch and score.

Derby had the final say when they regained kicked a penalty to the corner. The forwards caught and drove and tried several close quarter drives. However the Matlock defence was sucked in sufficiently for the backs to release Stringer to score his second of the game. Despite late Matlock pressure and some determined Derby tackling in their own territory this proved to be the last score of the match.

Derby were nowhere near the performance level of previous weeks however a win against Matlock is always pleasing. Credit to the visitors who as usual scrapped for every ball and provided their muscular brand of rugby which has served them so well in the past against Derby.

Derby: Saffell, Hollis, Hutchinson, Maddocks, Stringer, Swainston, Greenhalgh, Erwin, Wilcox, Dodds, Down, Sewell, Reid, Delaney, Taylor-Dawes. Replacements: Armett, Lewis, Thompson, Kirkby.

Tries: Greenhalgh (2), Hutchinson (2), Stringer (2), Reid
Conversions: Hutchinson (5), Greenhalgh

Match Report by Phil Maddocks

8th Oct'11: Derby 2nd XV 28 - 10 Leicester Lions 2nd XV

2s make it four in a row after defeating Lions

Leicester Lions were the visitors to Haslams as the 2nd XV took a break from NLD Pennant action with a friendly clash. Matt Erwin and Martin Dodds returned to start at prop, John Down moved to second row and Chris Brown, John Lewis and Max Argyle formed the back row. Swainston started at 9 and Greenhalgh was a late call up to full back where Ollie Saffell had been switched to outside centre.

The disrupted preparation suffered by Derby was evident as Leicester Lions dominated the opening ten minutes forcing Derby to defend doggedly in their own twenty-two. Lions spurned a glorious opportunity when their tight-head prop knocked on with the line open. Slowly Derby managed to get a foothold and some strong running gave them territory in the Lions half. Derby drove over the line once from an attacking line out but the referee was unsighted and could not award the try. Finally after several attacking phases around the Lions line Dan Hutchinson was able to dive over to open the scoring. Hutchinson converted his own try and Derby had the first half lead.
Back came Lions and again they put serious pressure on the Derby line forcing some desperate defence from the men in Black and Amber. Finally Lions earned a penalty in front which they converted to open their account for the afternoon. Derby extended their advantage when the forwards carried strongly and centre Phil Maddocks was able to exploit a gap in the Lions defensive line and sprinted clear to score. Hutchinson again converted to extend Derby’s advantage to 11 points.

Lions lost their centre to the sin bin for a dangerous lifting tackle and then almost immediately as Lions broke to within five yards of the Derby line Ryan Manning was penalised for killing the ball and was himself yellow carded. Derby couldn’t hold out until the half-time whistle as Lions created another overlap which this time the winger was able to finish meaning Derby led 14-10 at the break.

The second half was scrappier than the first and both sides struggled to find some of the fluency of the first. Derby had the better attacking opportunities and added two further tries to their score. Firstly second row Mark Watkins reacted quickest when Derby took a quick penalty and were stopped short. Watkins scooped up the loose ball and barged over next to the posts for his first try for the 2nd XV. Then centre Ollie Saffell took the ball in towards contact in midfield and somehow emerged through the crowd of players to sprint clear and score. Hutchinson added conversions to both tries to give Derby a comfortable cushion. Lions continued to threaten in the second half mainly down both flanks and Derby spurned a couple of opportunities when the final pass was misplaced or knocked forward.

Final Score: Derby 28 – 10 Leicester Lions

Photographs from the Derby 2nd XV v Leicester Lions game can be found in the Photograph Galleries.

Derby Statistics:
Derby: Greenhalgh, Hollis, Saffell, Maddocks, Manning, Hutchinson, Swainston, Erwin, Reid, Dodds, Down, Watkins, C Brown, Lewis, Argyle. Replacements: Johnson, Taylor-Dawes, Kirkby
Tries: Hutchinson, Maddocks, Watkins, Saffell
Conversions: Hutchinson (4)

Match Report by Phil Maddocks

1st Oct'11: Derby 2nd XV 71 - 26 Market Rasen & Louth 2nd XV

2s rack up points against stubborn Market Rasen

With sweltering temperatures of 27oc beating down on the pitch Derby took on Market Rasen in their fourth NLD Pennant fixture of the season. Jordan Hollis came in on the wing and in the pack John Down and Steve Jones made their debuts at flanker and second row.

The first half an hour belonged exclusively to the home side as some sweeping attacking moves and efficient recycling saw them score five converted tries and open up a 35 point advantage. Firstly Craig Hughes crossed the line, followed by Thompson, Hughes again, and then a brace from Hollis. At this point Market Rasen looked down and out but suddenly they found some fluency and determination that had been lacking in the face of Derby’s opening onslaught. They scored two converted tries before the half time interval to give themselves hope that the contest was still alive.

Shortly after half-time a third, this time unconverted, try was forthcoming and Derby were looking decidedly rattled. They managed to regain their composure and finally managed to string together some phases as they had in the opening exchanges. Flanker Greg Sewell rounded off a swift passing move which was immediately cancelled out by Market Rasen when Derby made a mess of the resulting kick off allowing the Rasen player to pilfer the ball and run in from the twenty-two.

Derby managed to regain the upper hand for the final twenty minutes or so and gave the score line a gloss that had been unlikely fifteen minutes earlier and which Market Rasen’s efforts didn’t deserve. Firstly Hughes and then Hollis completed their hat tricks and hooker James Reid added another score. Another sweeping move saw Hollis hauled down inside the Market Rasen half but the ball was recycled quickly finding Stefan Greenhalgh to cruise round the outside of the remaining defenders. Fittingly the final word went to Hughes with his fourth try of the afternoon and Derby’s eleventh score of the match. Three more conversions were added in the second half making the final score Derby 71 – 26 Market Rasen.

Derby Point Scorers:
Tries: Hughes (4), Hollis (3), Thompson, Sewell, Reid, Greenhalgh
Conversions: Hutchinson (7), Swainston

Match Report by Phil Maddocks

24th Sep'11: Mansfield 2nd XV 07 - 59 Derby 2nd XV

17th Sep'11: Derby 2nd XV 50 - 12 Ilkeston 2nd XV

Improved Performance sees 2nds put 50 past Ilkeston

After the disappointment of last weeks home defeat by Nottingham University Medics the 2nds had plenty of room for improvement. Their opponents a week on were old rivals and last seasons beaten Derbyshire cup finalists Ilkeston.

Ilkeston started strongly and threw several attacking mauls and short drives at the Derby line. Much improved Derby defence kept them out through some excellent tackling and some key turnovers to relieve the pressure. Centre Liam Walter had to leave the field at this point with a serious cut to his right eye necessitating a trip to the Derby Royal. Derby managed to settle into their rhythm and midway through the half the ball reached Craig Hughes on the right wing who beat three players to score in the corner. Stefan Greenhalgh added a neat conversion and Derby had taken the lead. Derby were controlling the game more at this stage and increasing the tempo despite the anticipated rain showers making the ball and surface greasy. Derby’s second try was an excellent passage of play with the ball switched from right to left recycled and eventually through quick hands from fly half Tom Swainston and Oli Saffell reaching Hughes for his second try. In the last minute of the first half Derby worked an opportunity on the Ilkeston twenty two leading to Swainston adding a sweetly struck drop goal from thirty metres to extend Derby’s half time advantage to 17-0.

Shortly after half time replacement centre Lewis Thompson added a fine solo try for Derby’s third and then following strong running from Manning and Saffell claimed his brace. Manning added a try of his own following a neat kick through by Swainston before Ilkeston hit back with a spell of pressure yielding a well worked score using an overlap on their right wing.

Derby were recycling the ball well but were guilty of overplaying some times and still making some basic handling errors which Ilkeston were quick to seize upon. Following some good forward work on the left the ball was worked into space for Thompson to grab his hat trick score cruising in under the posts. Following a Derby error at the base of a scrum the Ilkeston scrum half was able to score a consolation for his side before Derby fashioned the last score of the game. The forwards again gained yards before the ball was worked wide for Hughes to cross in the corner to complete his hat trick. Greenhalgh converted to bring up the half-century of points and complete the scoring.

A much improved performance from Derby showing better control at the breakdown, some fine ball carrying from the forwards and much better patterns of play in attack. Basic errors are still creeping into the performances which although not always costing points directly concede territory and momentum to the opposition. Another tough task awaits next week as the 2nds visit Mansfield.

Derby Point Scorers
Tries: Hughes (3), Thompson (3), Manning
Conversions: Greenhalgh (4), Swainston (2)
Drop Goals: Swainston

Match Report by Phil Maddocks

10th Sep'11: Derby 2nd XV 24 - 30 Nottingham University Medics

Beests disappointing in home defeat

After opening the season with a hard fought 27-20 win away at Sutton Coldfield, Derby ran out for the first time this season on home soil looking for a much improved performance from the previous week.

Derby started well and put the Medics under early pressure which yielded a penalty for fly half Dan Hutchinson which gained the lead. Medics hit back and worked several phases around the Derby twenty two before they exploited a big overlap on the right wing to score.

Derby regained their composure and took play deep into the Medics half with strong running from Max Argyle, Ash Stringer and Tom Taylor-Dawes. From a resulting five metre scrum TTD was able to pick up and when stopped offload to scrum half Stef Greenhalgh to score under the posts. Medics kept in touch through a penalty from their fly half before Craig Hughes added a further try in the right hand corner following Derby’s best passage of play of the whole afternoon. Hutchinson added a superb conversion to extend the lead before Medics hit back with a further try of their own leaving the halftime score Derby 17 – 17.

The second half began well with Derby driving a lineout over the Medics line for Max Argyle to claim the score again converted by Hutchinson. From then on Derby lost their way as they made several basic errors and lost TTD and Argyle to serious shoulder and jaw injuries respectively. There was a longish break in play after the Medics scored a converted try as two Derby players had collided leaving Hutchinson with a nasty gash to the head. Shortly after Hutchinson was able to rest as the referee produced a yellow card for killing the ball following a swift Medics break. This lead to a converted penalty, the first of two for their fly half, before Derby almost replied through a penalty of their own but Hutchinson’s effort rebounded off the upright.

Try as they might Derby struggled to get any sort of phase play together despite some promising attacking positions and the Medics held on to win 24 – 30. Derby were disappointing and Medics were keen tacklers and turned the ball over often at the breakdown. Massive improvement is required for next Saturday when the Beests entertain Ilkeston in a rematch of last season’s 2nd XV cup final.

Derby Point Scorers
Tries: Greenhalgh, Hughes, Argyle
Conversions: Hutchinson (3)
Penalties: Hutchinson

Photographs from the Derby 2nd XV v Nottingham University Medics game can be found in the Photograph Galleries.

Match Report by Phil Maddocks

20th Aug'11: Derby 2nd XV 31 - 27 Melbourne

No match report.

Photographs from the Derby 2nd XV v Melbourne game can be found in the Photograph Galleries.