Derby 31 Long Eaton 49
The two relegated clubs met at Haslams to complete their respective league seasons.
Derby have had a tough year, and with George Pollock and Joe Bennett making appearances from the bench, took the number of players used during the season to 51.
A disastrous start for Derby saw them 14 – 0 down after just 3 minutes, as Long Eaton scored 2 converted tries.
After 10 minutes, Simon Moon was held up over the Long Eaton try line, but that was as good as it got for Derby in the first half, as long Eaton scored 2 more converted tries before the interval, to turn round 28 – 0 ahead.
When Long Eaton scored another converted try in the 1st minute of the 2nd half, it looked as if Derby were going to get a thrashing.
Derby had other ideas however, as they then scored 4 tries in 20 minutes.
Tom Bigland was the first to cross, with Lewis Hancock making light of the tricky wind to nail a superb conversion from out wide.
It was Lewis Hancock who then scored the next try, darting through a gap on half way and sprinting away to score. He then converted his own try.
The forwards were putting Long Eaton under pressure at this stage and they scored the next 2 tries, both from Nathaniel Bevan-Brown. This took his tally for the season to 11 and ensured that he finished leading try scorer for the 2nd season in a row. Lewis Hancock added 1 conversion.
With 15 minutes remaining, the scoreboard was showing 26 – 35, but if Derby could score next it would certainly be game on.
Unfortunately, from the Derby perspective, it was a converted try from Long Eaton that next troubled the scoreboard operator.
Derby were still not finished and Simon Moon reacted quickest to a loose ball to score.
Long Eaton completed the scoring with a final converted try in the last minute.
Another valliant performance from Derby who must now wait to see who they play next season. Hopefully it will be a better one !
Come on Derby !
R. Bambra
