Derby made 3 changes for the visit of high-flying Bromsgrove. Skipper Charlie Barker and his brother Jake were both injured, so Josh Ridley and Rhondell Stabana started. At scrum half, Josh Tizard returned, allowing Jake Roome to move to centre.
Derby, looking for their first league point since Christmas, kicked off on another cold day. So cold that every other game in the league was postponed!
Bromsgrove had the better of the opening exchanges and broke the deadlock after 18 minutes, when a spell of pressure led to a try
Derby hit back 3 minutes later. A Bromsgrove clearing kick was claimed by Derby and the ball went to McGrath Van Wyk. He drew the last defender, chipped ahead, regathered and scored his 65th try for the club. Josh Bingham added the conversion and Derby were in front.
After 30 minutes, the score line read 19 – 7 to Bromsgrove as 2 converted tries took them 12 points clear.
2 minutes before the break, Derby narrowed the gap with a fine try. A burst from Josh Ridley took Derby up to the Bromsgrove try line. The ball went wide and Jack Dawson touched down for his 5th try of the season.
Halftime saw Bromsgrove ahead 19 – 12.
The 2nd half started and this time it was Derby who made the better start. After 55 minutes, Derby were close to the Bromsgrove line but were stopped illegally. The Bromsgrove full back was sent to the sin bin.
It took Derby only 2 minutes to make the advantage count. They kept the ball through a number of phases and created the space for Ryan Milton to score. Josh Bingham’s conversion tied the score.
Derby kept pressing and after 61 minutes, took the lead. Again, the ball was kept alive through a number of phases, before Sam Tebbs broke through despairing tackles to score his 4th try of the season. Josh Bingham converted and Derby were 7 points ahead.
With 12 minutes remaining, Bromsgrove were awarded a penalty. The kick was good, but the post came to Derby’s rescue.
Bromsgrove were piling on the pressure and after a number of penalties, the referee lost patience with Derby and sent Patrick Burke to the sin bin, with 6 minutes left.
Bromsgrove took advantage immediately and scored a converted try, to level the scores.
Both sides had spells of pressure in the remaining time. Bromsgrove were pounding away near the Derby try line as the game reached the 3rd minute of injury time, but were penalised, allowing Josh Bingham to boot the ball out and draw the game to a close.
A super game with 2 committed sides giving their all. Man of the match for Derby was Sam Pittman who excelled in the lineout, while the returning Callum Jones was influential.
This was a welcome return to form for Derby, just in time for The A38 derby against Burton, next week!
Come on Derby!
Report by: R. Bambra