It is unusual for a Derby side to reach the finals at the Sandal Festival and take the scalp of the home side which is exactly what this squad of players did on Sunday. 

Derby under 9s, to introduce them to their first season of tackling, (LIFE AFTER TAG) have been coached through the summer break on the basic techniques of tackling, mauling,  passing, and rucking in that order of priority.  While they had played a friendly against Lichfield, Sandal was really the first measure of how they will cope during the season.  They had not had any real coaching on positions and responsibilities.  While they were given positions for set piece for the rest of the match they were allowed “freedom to roam”. 

Their first match was against Ottley.  Derby attacking down hill made an early score which they couldn’t repeat against a side who tackled, rucked and mauled well, however in the second half Derby proved their ability to tackle not just as individuals but as a team, defenders had heads up and covered spaces to make their tackles count, unfortunately due to a mistake in possession near their own line they allowed Ottley to draw level with seconds to go. 

Their next two games proved easier and they ran out fairly easy winners with some excellent individual running and breathtaking tackles. 

This put them in the semi-final against Sandal who were a much bigger side, again Derby’s tackling kept them in the game despite being regularly driven off the ball, some fine individual running gave Derby a well deserved 10 – 5 win to put them in the final for a return match against Ottley. 

Derby continued in the same vain with excellent tackling and individual running. While Derby played as a team in defence they competed with each other for the ball in attack. The first receiver ran at Ottley’s packed defence, Ottley said thank you very much and took the ball back. Ottley won 15 nil. 

I believe we have a squad of players that have plenty of tremendous natural ability, we, the coaches, now need to develop an attacking team as well as a defensive team the players given the responsibility at Fly Half/First Receiver need to realise it is the position of the playmaker, the player who makes space for others to score it is not an opportunity to make solo attacks on opposition defences, even wingers shouldn’t do that! 

We need to have improved technique and be more aggressive when rucking and mauling, however they did overall play very well for the start of a season. 

Squad:   Daniel Ball, Charlie Barker, Sam Becker, Ollie Brentnall, Aiden Forknall, Dillon Leith, George MacDonald, Josh McDonald, Callum Slater, Matt and Jack Tyson, Ben Watts (Captain).

Festival Report by Ray Bland