Wolverhampton RFC 27 - 27 Melbourne RFC

Melbourne took to the road on an autumnal Saturday heading for the birthplace of Tessa Sanderson and the automated traffic light, Wolverhampton. Following a full weeks break Melbourne were hoping to bring further players back into the squad but a glut of innocuous looking injuries had turned out to be more serious with Howard, Bullock, Foster and Day all ruled out through injury.

Al Judge was welcomed back for his first appearance of the season and took a place on bench along with Nightingale and Lakin. Nicholson came into tighthead and Martin and Hancock onto the wings.

The green and golds were in a confident mood ahead of kick-off having competed well in the early stages of the season and with a win and draw under their belts they sought a first away win.

Conditions were good with the exception of a strong crosswind. Melbourne expected a strong start from the blacks as has been reported in recent fixtures but it was the green and gold that stamped their purpose and authority on game combing gritty play with pretty sequences through the backline stressing the fringes and wide channels of Wolverhampton's defence. Wolverhampton's first half strategy appeared to be battering away at the fringes with very little spread wide.

Both teams traded penalties with Holden taking the first points for the green and gold whilst Wolverhampton capitalised on a rare first half penalty for holding on. Melbourne looked the more likely to score at this stage playing with real purpose combining the solid phase play through the centre of Wolverhampton's defence before looking wide. It was Martin on his first debut of the season who opened the try scoring following excellent work in the 5m channel and a series of excellent quick passes linking the backs and forwards. The try was far right of the posts but Holden converted.

Wolverhampton showed glimpses of what they were capable of with a fine 22 to 22 run turning defence into attack when a mis-tackle allowed them behind the main defensive line but some fine scramble defence followed by a turnover allowed Melbourne to relieve the pressure and keep Wolverhampton out. However, it wasn't long before the blacks had a scrum 5m out and from the resulting shove were able to allow there eight to pick and drive for the line.

The game continued in this topsy turvy nature with Melbourne working hard to secure further scores with a second penalty from Holden and further try from Hancock, once again converted but allowing Wolverhampton back in the game against the run of play. Second half Wolverhampton looked to spread the ball a lot more stretching Melbourne's defence which appeared to tire far to easily and gifting the home side two simples scores.

Melbourne continued to battle and fight and soon Page sliced through the blacks line to secure a third converted try which took Melbourne back in the lead. Both sides were guilty of poor defending at times and a yellow card for Nightingale reduced the visitors to fourteen with fifteen to go. It was when pressing for a fourth try that Wolverhampton grabbed another score to level the scores at 27 -27.

The final 10 minutes were all Melbourne who pressed for a fourth try and the win. A period of excellent pressure on the opposition 5m line saw the visitors a whisker away from the score but decided to move the ball wide only for an unforced error allowing Wolverhampton to clear their line.

A second opportunity presented when a penalty against the home side was pumped towards the opposition 22 and a lineout saw a maul form, which despite excellent go forward appeared to be pulled down only for the referee to award a penalty against the visits for crossing following a rolling sequence. This ended the game and left the scores tied.

Head Coach, Matt Derbyshire said " An away draw isn't a bad result for us but we felt that the game was there on a plate for us today and we had the better chances. We created multiple opportunities today which is really pleasing but we have plenty to improve upon, and quickly, as the performance of certain aspects of our game was certainly below par and the lads won't accept that, as we have higher standards. We have a tough couple of fixtures coming up, but that provides opportunity in itself, so we can't make excuses and we will be training as hard as ever."