Josh Tizard failed a fitness test so Derby were forced into late changes, with Jake Roome moving to scrum half and Callum Slater starting in the centre.
Rain greeted the players and continued throughout the majority of the match, making handling difficult.
West Bridgford kicked off and Derby had some early territory. It was West Bridgford who opened the scoring with a penalty after 5 minutes.
Derby responded well and were pressing West Bridgford, before losing the ball. West Bridgford swooped and ran the length of the pitch to score a try, which was converted, putting West Bridgford 10 points up.
This lead was quickly increased, with another penalty.
After 19 minutes, West Bridgford lost a player to the sin bin and Derby made the extra man count. A penalty was tapped and spread wide, allowing Lewis Hancock to touch down.
The game continued to ebb and flow, as both sides looked to keep the ball in hand.
3 minutes before the break, Derby scored their 2nd try. A 5 metre scrum was won, the ball was again sent wide and Lewis Hancock scored again !
This left the half time score as 13 – 10 to West Bridgford.
West Bridgford started the 2nd half well. Derby had a number of chances to clear, but their line out was not functioning. West Bridgford took advantage, after 51 minutes and the forwards drove over the line, for a try which was converted.
7 minutes later they scored again when a missed tackle allowed a break.
Derby were 15 points down and had a mountain to climb.
They responded superbly and scored 2 tries in 3 minutes.
Firstly, after 60 minutes, they put some good phases together before Sam Pittman scored in the corner.
Jake Roome then showed great awareness, picking the ball up at the base of the ruck, spotting a gap and diving over. Lewis Hancock converted and the gap was down to 3 points.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Derby. They had 2 penalty chances to draw the game, but were unable to convert either.
An absorbing game, saw West Bridgford triumph, but Derby pick up 2 league points.
Next, 4th place Dronfield travel to Haslams for a Friday night game under the lights !
Come on Derby !
R. Bambra
