DERBY 45 LEEK 46
Various situations contributed to Derby being only able to nominate one substitute, Henry Gaunt, until the fitness trainer, Luke Bagwell, offered his services. Leek, on the other hand, were able to have five substitutes on the bench. This was going to tell on a hot afternoon.
Stand Off, Rob Mc Dernott, opened the scoring with an early penalty but Derby set up a driving maul from a 5-metre lineout and Jake Barker touched down. Pouncing on an error, Leek winger,Cartiledge, crossed for an easy try in the corner. Play was moving about the field until Cameron Finlay collected a long kick in his own 22-metre area,and started running at speed. Some quite brilliant inter passing was finished off by him as he cut through the defence for a try converted by Lewis Hancock. From a training ground lineout move, Sam Tebbs took the short ball and passed it to Jack Bates, who drove over for a try once again converted by Hancock. Following a scrum, good support play saw Sam Tebbs take a pass and dodge his way through for a try. When Lewis Hancock converted, Derby had a comfortable lead of 26 points to 8 at the interval. Things looked to be going Derby’s way in the hot sun.
Introducing fresh subs, Leek mounted an attack which gifted winger, Nadin, an easy try converted by Mc Dermott. Though beginning to look a little tired, Derby mustered at a lineout to catch and drive for the line. Jerri Oldfield touched down . However, minutes later from a quickly taken penalty, found Derby unprepared and Leek scored another converted try to reduce the deficit to nine points. The Leek game plan was clearly to keep possession and allow ball carriers to test Derby’s overworked defence. A gap finally opened and centre, Gorman, added a try duly converted by Mc Dermott. Two minutes later Lui Natuli showed remarkable strength and determination breaking through several tackles to touch down near the posts for Lewis Hancock to tap over the conversion. Down the other end a sequence of several phases allowed second row, Hayes,to ease over for a try. Mc Dermott’s conversion confirmed Leek’s lead by five points and all seemed lost with only ten minutes left.
Somehow Derby found the energy to launch an attack from a tap-and-go penalty. Jerri Oldfield took a pass in full flight and crashed over for a try which Lewis Hancock converted to put Derby in front by two points. With just minutes left, Derby conceded another one of too many penalties. Mc Dermott made no mistake and broke Derby hearts to win by a single point.
Subs are always a vital part of any team effort. Lack of fresh legs on a hot sunny day took its toll. Scoring 45 points in any game would have been enough to win but Leek were able to keep the pressure on by keeping possession.
We can look forward with hope for next season.
Gerry Sherry
