Banbury were the visitors to Haslams for the last league game of the season. Derby had started the season with a visit to Banbury and had come away on the wrong end of a 69 – 7 scoreline, so they were looking to improve on that !
A beautiful, sunny day greeted the teams as they ran out and the day looked set for a feast of running rugby. That is exactly how it turned out !
Banbury started the scoring after just 1 minute, with a converted try.
Derby hit back 4 minutes later, when Nathan Bevan Brown made a powerful run and scored. Lewis Hancock added the conversion.
After 10 minutes, Derby had the lead, when Sam Tebbs scored from a lineout. Lewis Hancock again added the conversion.
Banbury narrowed the gap with a try of their own, before Derby crossed twice more.
Lewis Hancock was the first scorer, before a Sam Tebbs break allowed Joe Acton to touch down. Lewis Hancock converted the 2nd try, to leave Derby 26 – 12 ahead after 25 minutes.
Banbury again hit back, with a converted try and a penalty, but Derby scored another 2 tries before the break.
Lui Natui and Ryan Milton were the scorers and with Lewis Hancock converting both, Derby led 40 – 22 at the interval.
Derby would have to play against a stiff breeze in the 2nd half and it started badly for them with a converted try for Banbury after just 5 minutes.
From this point on, Derby took control and dominated the rest of the game. They kept the ball in hand and mounted wave after wave of attacks.
The back row of Sam Tebbs, Jake Roome and Jeri Oldfield were all over the field, while centres Ben Wilcox and Lui Natui were creating havoc.
Derby scored 4 tries in the 2nd half, taking theirmatch tally to ten.
Lui Natui, Simon Moon, Lewis Hancock and McGrath Van Wyk were the try scorers, while Lewis Hancock kicked a conversion, to take his personal tally to 22 points.
A superb end to the league season, with Derby finishing in 9th place after winning 7 of their last 9 games.
Next week Derby face Leek, at Haslams in The Papa John’s Men’s Community Cup.
Come on Derby !
R. Bambra