Melbourne skipped across the A50 for a new local derby and fixture against the much improved and invested Long Eaton. The fixture promised to be an entertaining bout with both teams known for a want of expansive rugby.

Melbourne again saw many changes and little consistency in their squad selection. Holden, Howard, Benstead, Livesey and Iliffe all coming into the starting fifteen with the Stephenson Brothers and Nightingale making up the squad.

With heavy rain over the previous 24hrs the pitch was greasy and further rain was predicted.

Melbourne received the kick, with Percival starting the exchanges taking on responsibility of carrying hard and getting Melbourne onto the front foot. This is where Melbourne stayed, essentially, for the entire first half. The green & gold dominated possession and territory testing Long Eaton's defensive resilience.

Melbourne pinned the blues back into their 22 for large periods, but were unable to breach a dogged defence as they looked for the first score. Iliffe, Percival and Warren carrying well and working hard.

Melbourne imposed themselves upon Long Eaton with strong physical confrontations regularly being dished out to the blues. Neither side held back and some mighty hits and exchanges were observed. An early change had to be made when a laceration to Mark Coyne's head began to spill crimson for his valiant efforts in the early tight work. A shift to the pack saw Percival take to loose head and Harry Stephenson move to backrow. The change saw an immediate advantage in the pack as the added ballast countered that of Long Eaton in the scrum as the green&gold began to shunt the blues backwards.

The first score of the game, came completely against the run of play and a degree of fortune for the home side. Goddard spilt the ball from the tackle which was dislodged and knocked backwards. The quickest player to respond was Long Eatons right wing, Adam Castle, who picked and sprinted through. With no covering defence it was left to Melbourne left wing to chase back and defend with an exceptional display of pace. Howard caught the blues winger and tapped tackled the player bringing to ground, unfortunately knocking himself out in the process and being unable to "complete" the tackle allowing castle to get back to his feet and scrabble to the line gaining Long Eaton a 5 - 0 lead. This saw a further change with Howard immediately replaced, Iliffe switching to wing and Nightingale coming into the backrow.

With most of the first half having been played out and dominated by the South Derbyshire team Melbourne found themselves worryingly behind but, with confidence in themselves, and having learnt valuable lessons the green & gold continued to impress with their decision making. A penalty presented itself wide left for an infringement at the breakdown as Long Eatons discipline began to be pressured and examined by the match official. Holden choosing to point to posts & claw back three points. 5 - 3

Before the half ended a second penalty was again awarded this time centrally located and 25m out. Holden once again converted to edge Melbourne into a 5 - 6 lead.

Half Time - Cheese & Biscuit Break for the Supporters!

The green&gold came back onto the pitch fired up and looking to impose themselves further on the game and scoreline. They didn't have to wait long as they quickly established themselves on the front foot and scythed through the blues defence, Livesey starting the movement and then the forwards getting in behind the defensive line, the ball was then moved to the outside where centre Jack Fisher darted onto the outside shoulder and grounded the ball right of the posts which was converted by Holden 5 - 13.

Long Eaton struggled to gain any hold of the game at this point and Melbourne continued to press and pressure the blues. As second try soon followed as once agin Joe Livesey cut through the blues defence, side stepping the attention of his would be tackler, as the covering defence brought the wing to ground he offloaded from floor to the supporting fisher who ran the ball in wide left. Unfortunately the conversion, was narrowly wide 5 - 18.

As the weather deteriorated and the game began to approach its closing stages Long Eaton upped their game. Deciding to use their effective maul to good advantage. With a penalty awarded to the blues they kicked to the corner and gathered the ball from the lineout, Melbourne's defence of this was disjointed and allowed the blues to gained forward momentum. Their sizeable pack then able to shunt themselves forward for a score wide right. 12 - 18

The score gave the blue hope but Melbourne managed to close the game out and take the four points.

TRIES: X2 FISHER
CONVERSIONS: HOLDEN
PENALTIES: X2 HOLDEN
YC/RC: NA

MOTM: Jack Fisher

Melbourne take on Earlsdon next week, away in Round 2 of the RFU Intermediate cup - both teams having won four from four and a further stern test for the green and gold.