Another bonus point win for Melbourne

Rare Try for Michael Lowery

Conditions: Overcast with a slight breeze
Pitch: Remarkably good even "firm" in parts

Points of note: Mark "Funnybone" Coyne and the return of "The Angry Geordie".

Report:
Talk before the game was focused on whether we would actually play a game of rugby as Dronfield conducted yet another pitch inspection having concerns over the grass to mud ratio at cockshut lane. Fears were allayed when the thumbs up were received from the club chairman aka "Pete The Pitch Inspector".

The coach had a difficult selection dilemma this week with Tony Day, Joe Stuart, Colin and himself all available for running touch - he decided to go with past performance, experience and reliability by presenting the flag across to Colin.

First Half
With the whistle sounded Melbourne kicked up field to Dronfield. The team were braced for a tough encounter and that's what they got as the visitors physicality looked to impose itself upon our defensive line. Composure was key with Melbourne happy to defend and seek an opportunity to reverse the pressure.

Melbourne's pack fronted up with some good carries from Rob "I wanna be top try scorer" Hollingsworth, Mark "cut me an angle" Coyne and Pop "pitbull" Lakin standing out amongst many. Dronfield's defence was solid however and only small yardage was being gained.

It was on twenty minutes when Melbourne received bad news...Coyney had hit his funnybone in contact and couldn't continue. The lad was in a bad way and to make matters worse as he exited the pitch, to be replaced by Day, an inconspicuous and inconsiderate sniper took him down with players and supporters witnessing him dramatically collapsing to the ground in a heap gripping his shoulder with a squeal to accompany the dramatic tumble to the floor. A thorough search was conducted of the surrounding area but no sign of a sniper was ever found. Strange...

Shortly after this another injury struck with Tommy "Gasman" Howard being felled by two Dronfield players as he attempted to run through them - the sideline gasped as they heard the impact - and as the bodies rolled away Tommy emerged in pain. The unsavoury opposition scrum half proceeded to clap Tommy sarcastically and "get in his face" however, he would later regret this unsporting action as a tall dark shadow emerged from the backline, it could only be one thing... the emergence of the much missed Angry Geordie...

With a quick player shuffle, with Joe S coming on to accommodate and cope with the loss of Tommy, play resumed. Melbourne began to identify opportunities and gain the front foot. Joe "the smash" Stuart lived up to his reputation with a big ol' hit on the Dronfield stand-off who took a few minutes to get back up.

The breakthrough came when a Melbourne player (didn't catch the number or name of the player but it definitely wasn't Mike "No Tries" Lowery) took a quick tap penalty and drove through two maybe even three defenders to touch down left of the sticks for the first points of the game.

A yellow card shortly followed for the Dronfield eight for the culmination of a few high tackles, taking one for the team.....well hid fly half mainly..

Melbourne continued to apply pressure and a little jink by captain Holden saw him go over again left of the sticks for the second try.

Second Half
Straight from the kick off a Melbourne error gifted Dronfield 3 points, which they soon doubled, to make the score 10-6.

The majority of the next forty minutes was all about Melbourne. They continued to apply pressure and keep possession in Dronfields half. The hits were big and physical but gaps were opening up. The Dronfield stand-off kicked down the pitch and Melbourne were happy to run it back with the Angry Geordie and Devon "I'll run over you" Iliffe making superb inroads throughout the second half and the game in general.

Melbourne's third try came from a fumble from the Dronfield 10. Rob Hollingsworth picked up the loose ball 40m out and the green's marauding number 8 showed a bit of pace and skill in a show and go to touch down for a converted try.

Dronfield became frustrated and with ten minutes to go their stand-off lost his cool with a delibrate trip. The yellow card was out but as he left the pitch ranting abuse towards the ref this was changed to red.

The best play was saved for last as Melbourne built upon good phases to see the ball shipped wide to Foz for a great finish and finale.

Final Score 22 - 6

Plenty of positive performances inc. Theo, Euan, Page and Fish at the fore. This was a little marred by injuries but inevitable with the size of some of these gargantuans in this league... we march onwards and look upwards was the call of the day and no complacency must creep into our games.