Melbourne gutted to concede draw in the last minute

Conditions: Drab & wet with strong cross wind
Pitch: Soft underfoot

Points of Note: Tony "Head Collector" Day, William "Simples" Judge, Jack "The Mule" Fisher, Tommy "2 inch" Howard

Report:
Melbourne travelled to Bakewell on a drizzly overcast and generally drab Saturday. It wasn't a great mood from the start as players and coaches riffled through their coppers to raise the funds for car parking on the "show ground" (a shocking £4.40 per car...fortunately our gate keeper will be charged with recouping that next season - sounds like a job for morris "the debt collector" ). The lengthy walk, in the opposite direction to that of the pitch, served as a great warm up for the lads and put them in tranquil place with the sounds and surrounds of bubbling water and squabbling geese/ducks.

Touch running duties were undertaken by Jack "one arm" Pearce, who was reprimanded by ref and Bakewellians for not raising his injured shoulder and arm high enough...how inconsiderate of him - I think he did a sterling job under the circumstances.

First Half

With the whistle sounded Melbourne received the kick-off. Bakewell had the wind in the first half. Melbourne played with purpose and a level of maturity and assuredness which was pleasing to see. Tempo was good and Melbournes passing sequences saw them threaten Bakewell on numerous occasions. In defence Melbourne were aggressive and relentless putting great pressure on Bakewell, with some monstrous hits by Day and Purce throughout the first twenty minutes. The pick of the bunch coming from Day who almost shook someones head off with a the sheer force of his ferocious clear out at a ruck.

The first points on the board were Melbourne's from a penalty. The Green Machine were dominating at set piece and were forcing Bakewell to back pedal on most feeds.

It was a relatively well balanced game. Bakewell carried the ball well and were also very physical. Bakewell's Bagshawe boys particularly notable in the tight earnt hard meters for their team. Melbourne had the majority of possesion but just could not find the clinical edge of previous weeks. Tommy H and Bilson caused problems outwide with pace and harrying attitudes. Bilson created half a chance when he looped around and managed to closedown a kick and provide a great chase that pressurised the fullback into a panicked clearance. A neat chip through by the pestering Page almost broke for the Greens but Howard found the bounce of the ball to be cruel as it snook over his fingers by a couple of inches which would of been a run in try.

De Vies commanded the backline well with a dominant display under the high ball and jinked his way around the Bakewell defence to provide valuable go forward for Melbourne.

As time ticked on Melbourne began to force things in an attempt to create a break. This provided a rare opportunity for Bakewell who then managed to break through the green defence for a try against the run of play.

Melbourne retrained their focus and thankfully patience prevailed and it wasn't too long before the Greens secured their opening try as superb running lines saw Howard scythe through the Bakewell lines to sneek in for an all important score. (10-7)

Fish ran the show well from ten and Stuart and Iliffe were offering plenty of threat with ball in hand. Melbourne continued to dominate field position and most of the contact exchanges but couldnt add to their points tally despite creating several good opportunities for a score. Bakewell pressed on the odd occasion but rarely threatened the tryline.

Second Half
Jack "The Mule" Fisher began proceedings and by his own admission laughed as his interpretation of metres and centimetres became confused with his high looping drop kick almost ending up behind him (the wind surely having some role to play in that...surely!).

With Melbourne looking to utilise the conditions and pressurise Bakewell, a strong start was paramount. Bulldozing runs from Hollingsworth, the Judges and Iliffe created gaps in the Bakewell defence. Several times flowing phases and passing rugby almost unlocked the resilient Bakewell only to be stopped short by either tackle or execution.

Melbourne were getting a solid grip on the game and looked like getting the next score and so they did following great phases by the pack which allowed Joseph "fleet foot" Stuart created a glimpse of space for Jordan "try machine" Sparkes to bulldoze his way through and swan dive over for a great team try (17-10).

A third try almost followed immediately as a superb passing sequence saw the ball ran from Melbourne's ten metre line to Bakewell's tryline. The replacements Cresswell and Edgar immediately involved as their support lines for De Vies and Howard created an overlap out wide only to see man and ball dragged into touch inches short of the line.

Frustration was brimming as Melbourne pressed hard for further scores but the final piece never fell into place. A rallying call from Big Judge to keep it simple hit home as Melbourne continued to have the majority of possession, but again it was from a handling error and failed attack inside Bakewells 22 in the last five minutes that led to a hopeful hack down the pitch by the Bakewell wing. The ball looked to have been kicked on too far and heading for the deadball line but with a strong cross wind the ball slowed and move across the face of the goal line. A penalty try was then awarded to Bakewell as the covering player was pinged for holding on. With only minutes left Melbourne continued to look for a way to edge the scoreboard over in their favour but without success.

Dejected, disappointed and downhearted. This felt like a win we had thrown away rather than had taken from us. No more needed to be said.

Credit to Bakwell they are a tough and hardened team who do well at home and made a competitive game of it.

Final Score 17-17