A great start to the match saw Derby scoring straight from the kick off with the Melton catcher driven into touch. From the lineout Fraz threw to a waiting James Marshall setting up a maul which was then taken on by Jim Robertson. Simon Burdge fed Adam Parkin who stormed over the line from 7 meters out to score. 7-0 Derby .

Melton hit straight back and the ball was fizzed out to their winger who was swiftly nailed by Matt Buller but Derby were penalised for hands in the ruck. Melton kicked into the corner from the lineout and set up a good rolling maul enabling them to score a try. 5-5, honours even at half time.  

The second half was exactly the same as the first.  Derby knocked on from the kick off and the Melton lineout was stolen by James Marshall who set up a maul taken on by Stu Brunt. The ball found Reza who fizzed it out to the backs. Derby could not complete the moves as they knocked on. Then for some reason Derby lost their cool and a series of penalties led to a kick straight in front of the posts which the Melton fly half slotted with ease. 8-5 Melton.

Another penalty against Derby saw them pinned back in their own half but Stu Brunt stole the lineout ball and passed to Chunky Brown and Fraz.

Derby were awarded a scrum and Chunk drove forward but again Derby knocked on. Our boys were awarded a scrum on their own 5 meter but somehow lost the ball enabling the Melton fly half to score. 13-5 Melton. This woke up the Derby boys and it was wave after wave of attack.

Derby set up a rolling maul which took them half the length of the pitch and included support from some of the backs, unfortunately the ball was turned over right on the Melton line and cleared, the gasps were audible.

A great piece of skill from Bozzy, chipping the ball over the top of the Melton defence, saw the ball cleared into touch.

From the lineout a rolling maul was set by Stu and driven on by Fraz and Chunk. Rezza drew his man in and off-loaded to Matt Freer who sent Matt Kennedy into the corner on the loop. 13-10 Melton.

Derby kept pounding away in the last 10 minutes but were unable to produce another try. Final score 13-10 to Melton.  

After thought…………….

What a game of rugby !!! Excellent Refereeing and full blooded, 100% effort from every player on the pitch !

These are the sort of matches Derby need, Melton are a good side but we pushed them all the way to the wire. Well done lads. From the side lines it was the toughest and best game of the season so far. We look forward to playing Melton again in the near future. Derby were missing 5 key players but from this performance it never showed. I suppose this is the advantage of having such a big squad. Keep up the good work lads. 

Derby started the game with a lot of changes and the new line up took some time to gel. Derby put Chesterfield under a lot of pressure but again a series of silly penalties lost them possession and territory. Chesterfield were awarded an early penalty but failed to make it count.

From a scrum to Chesterfield on the halfway line Fraz won the ball against the head. Simon Burdge fed to Reza who passed to a waiting Andy Gates who off loaded to Matt Kennedy who with a storming run made the line but was deemed to be holding on and then a turnover to Chesterfield. Again they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and this time Chesterfield made sure it counted.

This spurred Derby into action . A line out to Derby saw Fraz throw directly to Stu Brunt who passed to the waiting Wozza. Woz passed on to Chunky who was held up leading to a five meter scrum to Derby . Simon Burdge swiftly passed the ball out to Andy Gates facilitating a rolling maul under the posts. Stu Brunt dived over the line for his sixth try of the season. Reza converted the try 7-3 to Derby .  

Derby players were gradually taking control of the game, a Chesterfield lineout on the halfway line was stolen by Jim Robertson and Derby set up a ruck which ended with Simon Burdge sending Wozza away on lovely angled run before weaving in and out of five players to score under the posts. Reza slotted the kick and it was 14-3 to Derby .

Derby were now rampant and again a lineout throw from Fraz found Stu Brunt who once again set up a rolling maul where the Derby pack marched under the posts enabling Wozza to crash over the line for his second try of the game. 19-3 Derby at half time.  

Derby made quite a few changes during the break in play and yet again everyone who pulled on the black and amber shirt did themselves and the team proud.

Derby again were running the game but a series of penalties and strange refereeing decisions prevented them from scoring many points, there was one second half, Reza nailed the Chesterfield inside centre on the halfway line and the ball was picked up by Jim Robertson who fed Andy Brown who handed off one player before sprinting over the line to score.

Final score Derby 24 - 03 Chesterfield

After thought……………  

A massive turnout again from Derby , 29 players to choose  from and its getting more and more difficult for head coach Robbo to keep everybody happy.

Hats off to Chesterfield they only had 16 players but pushed Derby all the way and we had to work very hard for the victory.

The pitch didn’t help and it was difficult for Derby to get their flowing game of rugby.

Good news this week!! Derby will be playing Paviors in the NLD semi-final in March. CAN’T WAIT !!!

Derby started the game slowly and Kesteven were well fired up.

An early penalty against Derby for stamping saw Kesteven with a scrum on Derby ’s 5 metre line. A missed tackle and players getting sucked out of position saw the Kesteven winger dive over the line to give the opposition an early lead. The try was converted ( 7-0 Kesteven) and this had the Derby players fired up ready to come back. 

An excellent move from the kick off saw new player Andy Brown feed hooker Fraz who laid it off to Rezza. Flowing passing from Stef Greenhalgh to

Adam (I’m heading to Leicester Tigers) Parkin saw a fantastic move forward, Adam was held up just shy of the line.

From the 5 meter scrum Snowy Greenhalgh set up Matt Freer and it was taken on by Fraz before Captain Stu ( Kofi Anan ) Brunt dived over the line to score, Rezza converted and the honours were even. 7-7.

Derby’s second try came from a lineout, James Marshall set Jim Robertson who fed through to Stu. The passing was awesome and once again it came to Adam who fed to Bozzy Bostock who bent three players before James Marshall again got hold of the ball. James passed to Stef who scored in excellent fashion. 12-7 Derby at half time.  

Second half and one or two substitutions saw a whole different game from Derby . They set up a brilliant rolling maul, James Marshall put Stu away but the Kesteven lads pulled the maul down just before the try line.

From the next kick off another great move by Derby saw the Kesteven drop out taken by Andy Brown who fed James Marshall out to Andy Gates who again fed to Rezza. Unfortunately Derby knocked on from the clearing line out. Tom Warren beat four players to score under the posts in dramatic fashion for his first try of the season after coming back from injury. 24-7. Kashefi made the conversion making the score a brilliant 26-7 Derby .

Kesteven were becoming frustrated and there were a few run in’s on the pitch.

Kesteven tried a great cross field kick which was touched down behind the line by Jim Robertson. A massive 50 meter drop out from Rezza was picked up by the Kesteven hooker but he would not release and a quick tap penalty saw Stu Brunt dive over the line for his second try of the match. 29-7. The try was not converted.

From the kick off a knock on by Kesteven saw a scrum to Derby on the halfway line. Scrum half Stef fed Andy gates who beat four players to race away and score under the posts. 34-7. Keshefi converted making the score 36-7 Derby .

A sad end to the game saw one Derby lock sin binned for punching.

Final score 36 - 7 Derby .  

After thought ………..

A slow start from Derby but once  they got going there was some lovely flowing rugby on the pitch. Hats off to Kesteven who never gave up all the way through the match and everything Derby achieved they had to work their socks off to get.

It was great to see so many players turn up, a squad of 27. Who would want to be a coach and pick a team from that lot.

Well done to Stu Brunt who captained the side very well and led by example from the front. It was great to see Chunky Brown, Tom Wozza Warren and Fraz back and overall well played lads, another great result.

After a messy first 15 mins Derby finally got their act together and from a scrum Rezza Keshefi set Matt Freeer away who fed the ball to Stu Brunt.

Derby were awarded a penalty when Tommy Howard was scragged back on a 50 yard sprint. Rezza slotted the penalty 10-0 Derby.  

Doncaster broke away but the full back was driven into touch by a great tackle from Simon Burdge. A break from Matt Kennedy laid off to Tommy Howard then onto Matt Unwin (Allez Onion) who made an excellent pass back to Reza. Reza made an awesome cross-field kick to new player Andy Brown but unfortunately Andy was held up over the line.

From the scrum a pick up from Jim Roberson at number 8 saw him beat two players to score under the posts, Reza converted yet again to bring the score to 17-0 Derby . Doncaster were awarded a penalty just on the half time whistle and this made the score 17-3 Derby .  

Derby came out Firing in the second half. A break from Matt Freer fed Stu Brunt, this was taken on at pace by Martin (dog ) Harrison who fed out to Andy Gates, Gatesy beat four players and dived over the line for his first try  for the club. Reza converted (this was becoming a habit) making the score 24-3. From the kick off Derby were at full steam again. Stu Brunt caught the kick and laid it off to James Marshall who sprinted 50 meters up the middle of the pitch, passed to Jim Robertson who unfortunately knocked on. Derby were all over the, by now slightly bemused, Doncaster side but basic errors were costing them. A quick penalty from Stu Brunt out to Elmo Moore who fed Andy Gates enabling a great one two between Tommy Howard and Andy Brown, Tommy dived over the line to score. Reza converted the try making the score 36-3 Derby .  

From the kick off Derby set the ball and our determined fly half cleared the ball deep into Doncaster territory. Tommy Howard drove the Doncaster full back over the line and from the next scrum the ball was passed out to Gatesy who crashed over the line for his second try of the game. 41-3

In the last 5 mins of the game Derby continued to bombard Doncaster but could not add to the score.  

After thought………….  

A great turn out by the Derby side and it was good to see almost everyone get on the pitch.. Three first choice players were absent due to a virus but excellent displays of rugby from everybody out there. If Derby had been more clinical with the play they could have won by a lot more but it was the first match for several weeks so overall and with all things considered it was a very good performance.

Well done to Jordie, Gatesy and Browny for their first scores of the season.

Derby started this game well and put Sandal under pressure. From a scrum on Sandall’s 5-meter line, the ball was fizzed out to Jordan Hollis who beat two men to then off-load the ball to Matt Buller. It was then taken on by Fraz who sent Stu Brunt away who then fed the ball to James Marshall who dived over in the corner to score his third try of the season. 5-0.

This seemed to niggle Sandal a bit and the game turned dirty. Sandal were up for a scrap and Derby allowed themselves to be drawn into the battle.

A scrum to Sandal on Derby ’s 5-meter line left Matt Unwin defending against two players and the Sandall winger went over in the corner. 5-5

A great run by Rezza Keshefi sent Stef Greenhalgh away but he was bundled into touch on the 5meter line. Derby’s good work was again undone by giving away a penalty at the lineout.  

Great pressure from Derby once more at a 5-meter scrum saw Stu Brunt and Fraz held up over the line. Half time 5-5.

Awesome !! That’s the only way to describe the first half performance by the Derby Under 16’s. The only time that Doncaster were able to penetrate the Derby half was through restarts.

Derby were missing 4 players to the NLD squad and 1 through injury but this never showed and the players that stepped up did the team, their families and themselves very proud.  

A break from Stu Brunt up the middle of the field put Martin Harrison off and running. He off loaded to Matt Scire who again passed out of the tackle to send James Marshall crashing over the line. Reza Keshefi kicked the conversion giving Derby a well deserved early lead.

A knock on in the Doncaster lineout was picked up again by Stu Brunt who sent James Robertson away, this put James Marshall into the corner for his second try. 12 - 00.

The Derby pack were awesome as they passed the ball around the field like backs.

Doncaster had a scrum on their 5 meter line and great work by Stephan Greenhalgh, ripping the ball and offloading to Reza Keshefi, put the Doncaster back row under real pressure. Kashefi outran a couple of the opposition before diving over the line. 17 – 00.  

Another 5 meter scrum on Doncaster's line gave Stefan Greenhalgh a further opportunity to confound the Doncaster side and enable Stu Brunt to rip the ball out and drive over the line. 22 – 00. Reza Keshefi slotted the conversion to increase the lead 24 – 00.  

A 5 meter line out catch by Brunt saw the pack drive over the line but hooker Fraz was held up. Half time score stood at 24 – 00.  

An injury to the Derby props early in the second half led to un-contested scrums which meant the Derby backs were under a lot more pressure but just as the forwards had excelled at passing during the first half the backs were tackling like forwards and the back line led by Jordan Hollis were up and in the faces of the Doncaster backs, very quickly putting them under massive pressure.

Yet again a decent forwards drive saw the ball passed down the backs to winger Matt Unwin who sprinted in from 20 meters to score his first try for the club. 20 - 00.

A great break by Doncaster number 13 saw the tackle of the match as Matt Freer nailed him and stopped him from breaking free.

Final score 29 - 00.  

After thought: Derby came with what was considered by many to be a weaker team but the squad showed how much it has come on in 12 months and the players performed out of their skins and gave 100%. What more could the coaches or parents ask for.

In the last two weeks Derby have come up against 2 very strong packs. Last week they ground out the result, this week was pure RUGBY .

Well done lads.  AWESOME !!  

An excellent game of rugby, a pleasure to watch, end to end. There was 100% commitment displayed by every player on the pitch.

Glossop came back and a penalty was awarded for hands in the ruck and the Glossop fly half converted from in front of the sticks. 7-3

Derby came back with force and another kick in behind the defence, this time picked up by Tommy Howard who beat two players before diving over the line to make the try. Keshefi once again converted to leave the half time score at Derby 13 Glossop 3.

A few words were said at half time and the Derby pack were a lot more solid in the second half. They matched Glossop all over the pitch and the battle of the forwards was great to watch.

Some Fantastic work from the Glossop full back who caught and ran the ball from his own 22 before weaving and dodging his way past six derby players before off-loading in the tackle to put the winger in the corner to bring the score to 14-8. The conversion was missed.

Then it was another Glossop attack which saw one of their forwards knock on over the try line.

In the end it was Derby who held out to take the victory in a hard fought match.  

AFTER THOUGHT:

The lineout worked very well all through the game and the Derby pack who were guilty of standing off and looking at the ball in the first half, rectified this during second half play and were a lot better. Overall a win is a win but Derby need a lot more games as competitive as this to enable further improvement.