Derby 10 Stockport 22
Jack Bates, sidelined with a shoulder injury, and Harry Slaughter failing a fitness test, further extended Derby’s injury list. However, Sam Tebbs made a welcome return after a six weeks absence and young Andrew Harriott made the transfer from backrow to hooker, showing his versatility. Only a maximum effort from the forwards would do against the bigger and stronger Stockport bruisers. Coach Liam got it right but not the good start he wanted.
Stockport kicked off and saw a big bounce catch Josh Bingham’s finger tips on the way to the dead ball line. From a lineout, big prop, James Cross, touched down for an unconverted try. This was not the start that Derby had hoped for. Ten minutes later, it got worse when centre, Tom Hughes, kicked and chased the ball for a touch down in the corner. Fullback, Zack Stephens, did well to convert. Good breaks and forceful running by Sam Tebbs and Nathan Bevan-Brown created gaps but the strong tackling by the Stockport defence closed those gaps to frustrate Derby. In the backs David Chell and Olly Horton came close to clean breaks but the hard tackling went low to stop them. A Yellow card to wingforward, Owen Mc Pherson, made little difference to the Stockport team. Thus, the score remained unchanged with the visitors leading by ten points to nil at the interval.
Derby restarted well with a Sam Tebbs break but suffered a pushback in a scrum. The Stockport pack executed a catch and drive for a try by second row, Matt Lawrowitsch. Joe Acton replaced Luke Johnson and ignited his association with Josh Bingham. Any ball was quickly moved and Bingham showed great courage and determination in consistently running hard at the opposition, providing a platform for the forwards to a more rapid support at the breakdowns. The fightback was rewarded when James Godfrey got the ball and powered through a shocked Stockport defence for a try converted by Josh Bingham. A Bingham penalty two minutes later narrowed the gap to seven points and suddenly Derby were back in the game. Then an enthusiastic but careless offence gifted Stockport a penalty. From the resulting lineout and a maul, openside wingforward, Ben Stephens, went over for a demoralising try.
Like they have done in previous games, Derby kept up the level of attack but lineout specialist, Sam Pittman, suffered a concussion blow. A second yellow card for Stockport preceded the final whistle. Derby’s performance was much better than they had expected and they commented that it belied our league position.
It is a weekend break for Derby next Saturday and a chance for some more walking injured to recover. Let’s hope so.
Gerry Sherry
Derby scorers
James Godfrey1 Try
Josh Bingham1 Con and 1 pen
