Melbourne come unstuck against bulk and knowledge of Derby

Trys - Kurtis Robinson (2), Andy Watts. 3 conversions and a penalty from Will Cresswell
Dronfield 2nds ran away so we were left with no fixture, Derby Vets stepped up and agreed to come over. We had lost quite a few players this week, due to bans and injuries in the firsts and quite a few un availabilities but on friday night we had 18 players and a fixture

We lost a couple of players with late cry offs but we still roughly had a team with most people playing in the correct place.

Jordan was back in prop action and Steve Bell and Watti made their season debut. Freddy the aukland flyer was brave enough to go on the wing.

Derby were a big old team and had large squad, including someone called Rob Lowe who appeared to be drunk. We expected it to be a tough test, and that we would struggle in scrum etc.

The game kicked off and from the start it seemd we could compete, Derby gave away lots and lots of penalties, we managed to hold our own scrummage ball and realistially derby only had one line out jumper who Booko could clear out. It was not quite a tough as we feared

Derby could not exert any conisitent pressure but were having most of the territory.

Dean and Will Cresswell were kicking pretty well, and as long as we could get the ball to ground we could recyle and create phases.

Derby had one really outstanding player in the back row who turned over lots of ball if we did not support our runners well enough.

Derby were the first to score, I think their winger broke through a series of poor tackles

Melbourne then had a bit of purple patch, first we won a scrum cleanly, Deano passed to Watti who dummied and did a lovely show and go and ran in from 40 mtrs with Kurtis running a diversions outside him. 7-5 we then got another try. The Derby tight head gave away alot of penatlies and we got a lot of territory and after 4 nice phases and quick ball, Kurtis scored a simple try, 12-5. Derby got a penalty.

At half time we were winning and in all truth if a few passes had stuck we may have had another try.

Derby had most of the ball, but we could break quickly and you felt if we could get Kurtis away he would score. Al Hollinsworth was having a storming game in the back row and stood out for his tackling.

The 2nd half started with some Derby possession but then from a misplaced kick by Will Cresswell, Kurtis got a good bounce and scored to make it 21-5, Derby had a lot of players and put the stronger ones on they also seemed to stop taking the ball to ground and to try driving mauls a bit more, this clearly played to their stregths and the tries started to come, first a lot of poor tackling allowed them to run in and then shortly after another try 22-21

We then got a penalty to make it 24-22, and hoped to hold on for the last 12 minutes sadly it was not to be, Derby exerted a lot of pressure within 5 meters from the line and we did not have the bulk to hold them out. We had done OK in the scrum but Derby knocked on over the line when trying to score in a comedy moment but from the resultant 5 yard scrum they took the ball against the head and scored

they managned another try before the end to make it 34-24 at the end

All in all a good game, the referee was excellent and made for a great game.

A word for the ref who was excellent through out and possibly the best ref we have seen at this level (not sure Derby will agree)

Thanks for derby for agreeing to play at short notice I think we all really enjoyed it

Having lost both our Captain and vice captain to the first, Dean, Toppo, Freddy and I will now be joint Captains for the 2nds as it will Guarantee a good run in the first immediately.

Lots of standout performances and no one let us donw, but MOM this week Al hollingsworth

Next week Derby 3rds at home