Dronfield 52 Derby 15
With five players out through injury and availability, Derby Colts travelled north to face NLD league leaders, Dronfield.
Derby conceded a scrum from the Kick-Off and the stronger Dronfield pack pushed hard and scored the first try, which was duly converted. Derby responded well with Tom Bull kicking a penalty and Ollie Massie
scoring a well worked unconverted try to narrow the gap to four points. That was as close as it got. Dronfield had five key players whose hard running and short passing relentlessly tested the courageous Derby defence. Two more tries with one converted saw Dronfield comfortably in front by sixteen points (24 – 8) at the interval.
Within two minutes of the restart, Dronfiedl scored a converted try but Derby’s Ben Saunders finished off some slick passing to score in the corner. Our young Colts tried valiantly but tired from their constant tackling. Dronfield added three more converted tries to run out comfortable winners.
Afterwards, I found Derby Colts were disappointed but not dispirited. That’s the spirit.
Gerry Sherry
