U16s – Derby vs Loughborough
This Sunday, Derby under 16’s welcomed Old Northamptionians to Haslams Lane for a thriller of a match.
The score was opened by the visitors with a penalty 3 point kick, which they followed up with a 5 point try. Both teams tackled and defended hard with Derby getting a break for a 7 point try just before halftime.
The second half saw more passionate and thrilling play with Old Northamptionians getting the first 7 points of the second half. Derby countered with another 7 point try. Both teams fought hard with Old Northamptionians breaking through the Derby defence for another 7. This was countered by Derby with another 7. After more outstanding attacking and defence it was the visitors who claimed the next 7 points. Derby dug in and fought hard and broke through for 5.
The final 10 minutes felt like an eternity with both sides close to scoring but being held up by excellent defence until the final whistle ending the match at 26-29.
A spectacular show of rugby from both teams, well done to all.
Thanks, Hx
U15s – Derby vs Oadby Wyggestonians
Oadby kindly visited Derby for hastily arranged game. Both sides played some good running rugby with the centres from each team being heavily involved. Oadby edged the forward battle giving them good go-forward ball and consequently found more joy on the scoreboard, going into a 3 try lead at halftime. Derby defended admirably with wave after wave of Oadby attack being soaked up by some epic scramble defence. However, with Oady using a good kicking game to control the territory Derby eventually conceded 3 tries late on in the last 15 of the game.
A heavy loss against one of the best teams we will face this season but our lads will have learnt a lot about themselves in a game where the scoreline didn’t reflect the even arm wrestle it was.
Our player’s Spirit in adversity and injury was massive and they should be proud of themselves
U14s – Derby vs Nottingham Casuals
With both sides fielding slightly reduced squads due to some last-minute changes, both sides managed 15 players with a few replacements.
After warmups and activations were complete, a pitch inspection, Derby opted to start against the strong wind. 30 seconds in, after the kickoff, Derby’s number 8 and captain (Ethan Harrison) made a long individual run from his own 10 meter line carving good lines tearing up the Casual’s defence eventually finding the try line in the corner for Derby’s first of the game. Opting to take the tricky conversion, whilst an impressive effort narrowly missing the posts. 0-5 Derby.
Whilst the early lead gave confidence to Derby, it fired the Casual squad who relentlessly held phase after phase, battering the derby’s defence which brought them a try under the posts and then a conversion for their efforts. 7-5 Casuals. Casuals Continued this successful attack and after another 20 phases, Derby couldn’t hold on any longer and another try and conversion given. 14-5 the Home team.
When Derby moved the ball out wide, each time they looked very dangerous carving through the Casuals defence, with exciting fast play, but often couldn’t quite capitalise on the efforts due to minor errors. Determined not to be beaten in the first half, Derby leveraged the extra possession, putting some good phase play testing the Casuals forward pack. After some improved ball retention and rucking found derby on the line, giving scrum-half Luka Bussell an opportunity to pick off the back of the ruck and dive for the line for a try. Derbys 15, Kaiden Webb quickly put the ball through the posts for a well-deserved team effort, 7 points. 14-12 Casuals.
Both Derby and Casuals conceded penalties for high tackles and likely equal knock-on and handling errors, but with Derby struggling with lineouts allowed Casuals to gain a little more possession.
The Home team were not done yet, sensing Derby’s joy of pulling some points back it was more relentless phase play from Casuals, once again bombarding the derby defence and rucks often turning over Derby’s hard-fought possession. The phases eventually allowed Casuals to get the ball over the line, this time by spreading it wide from the breakdown,1 meter off the Derby goal line, with a difficult and missed conversion 19-12 casuals.
The spectators then witnessed a melee of more gripping rugby action, both sides working so hard, neither wanted to concede resulting in a further 21 points being put on the boards between them. First Derby levelling up with Ethan finding the line and Kaeden Webb converting 19-19. Then it was Casuals putting what was thought to be the winning try and conversion made it 26-19.
The hard-fought battle ended with Kaiden Webb levelling Derby up to 26-26. A fair result for both sides given the balanced gameplay. Derby at times, due to injuries – played with a player down. Notably, Derby’s flanker, Bobby Schroder and fly-half Adam Binns taking knocks meaning they couldn’t continue.
This meant the Derby squad needed to pull together as a team in the second half, which they did admirably. Lots of first-time positions and skills developed during this game with Brennan, Billy Brewin and William Buckley trying out new positions and plays.
Captain on the day was Ethan Harrison, Pack lead – Will Buckley, backs lead – Evan Stephenson-Yeomans. The game was refereed superbly by our very own Chris Bussell with Doug Buckley assisting.
The lads had a wonderful ending in true rugby fashion back in the clubhouse for food and stories of the game. We thank our wonderful host and look forward to future fixtures.
U13s – Derby vs Ashbourne
Derby travelled to Ashbourne and turned out to be a tight match. Due to a few injuries, we could only field 2 Subs to their 8, so the boys knew it would be a test. Both teams went hard from the first whistle but Derby went down to a couple of early tries from Ashbourne. Derby dug deep and we were able to score with captain George going over for our first try after some great tackles and counter rucks. We then scored again via Henry on the wing to close the gap after some nice passing wide.
Ashbourne then put a few passages together and drove hard at the rucks to retain possession and finally drove over from a couple of metres out.
After a change of ends Derby continued to work hard at the breakdown and turned over a few times, and get within 10 metres of the line before our scrum-half Ben had a darting run to go over for our 3rd. Match now close, tension on the pitch raised another level, and Ashbourne pushed through for a quick try after some strong hand offs. Derby then responded again with tries from George Dickens and George Grey after some fantastic pressure and determination from our boys, and good fitness considering our lack of Subs. Once we started the final third the tensions raised even higher and the game got rather scrappy, but Ashbourne kept the pressure on with lots of rested Subs, and scored from a couple of direct runs. We then scored one of the most impressive tries with several phases and eventually using our width (on the boggy side of the pitch) and Henry passing off the ground 2 metres out to George Dickens having made a great cross-field supporting run to go over for his second of the match. We then, unfortunately, conceded a try near the end with the match finishing 7-6.
An amazing show of grit and determination from Derby and we showed great fitness to push them so close. Really proud of the boys again today, showing real progress week on week.