Derby win the National Shield on a Try count back
as Derby scored 2 Tries and 2 conversions compared to Bracknell's 1 Try and 3
Penalties.
Congratulations lads, it’s been a long time
coming! Couldn’t think where to start this match report, so I figured 1999 was
as good a place as any! That, if my memory serves me, is when some of these lads
started playing together! Since then the team has continually evolved.(note
evolved not grown) We must have the smallest team in the known universe, such
that Subbuteo have even offered to play them! What they lack in stature, they
more than make up for in skill & heart & bravery, never better displayed than at
Premiership side,Worcester RFU, when the lads won an RFU National title!!! It
doesn’t seem two minutes ago, watching them as under nines, all charging round
like a swarm of clueless bees, such that you could chuck a hanky over the lot of
them! Fairly rapidly however, under the expert eyes of coaching staff led by,
Roxy& Ged , (previously Ivan), the little Herbert’s developed into an half
decent side, winning tournaments along the way. BUT A NATIONAL TITLE, THAT IS
SOMETHING ELSE! So having beaten all comers in the midlands region, they went
onto convincingly beat the north regional champs, to set up a national final
against south champs Bracknell.
On the dawn of the day, you could tell
this was something serious, because we had two coach’s to travel down
in, instead of our usual “Wacky Races” type convoy, where half the cars
making the venue on time would be classed as a result!! Secondly, the
lads looked quiet, and a little nervous. My lad had even packed his bag
the night before, which is unheard of. Normally I’m impressed if he’s
got both boots laced up by kick off, but today, his boots had even been
polished! So we set off for Worcester, home of that spicy sauce. Would
the team be serving up some hot stuff, or would the vital ingredients
for success, not be on the menu? (C’mon this is my first pun in two
paragraphs, cut me some slack).
Once arriving at the venue, things were again different, more
professional. The team were swept away into the bowels of the very
impressive stadium, leaving us parents to pass a couple of very nervous
hours before kickoff. I read the paper, I read the supplements, I
re-read the paper. I even read the business section with all those big
words & odd graphs! (Incidentally sell, sell, sell I think was the
message) Finally kick off approached!
The teams entered the arena, with each
player being individually announced to the fairly sizeable crowd, all
adding to the tension & drama befitting this match. I was half expecting
the national anthems! The match officials, as in the semi-final were all
professionally “miked up.” I think I even heard the touch judge telling
the ref on the centre spot, he “could see his house from here!” Finally
the game got under way, with Derby kicking off, and having a lot of the
ball in the opening exchanges. Bracknell were definitely going to be no
“push-overs”, as there organised defence made Derby quite “lateral” with
the ball, unable to punch any holes through, we did well to retain
possession, even making the odd half break.
Derby made some headway with a penalty kick
well into the Bracknell 22. Early nerves resulted in an immediate knock on by
Derby, and long range relieving kick by the opposition, well into the Derby “Red
Zone.” Great scrapping by both sets of forwards, resulted in several turnovers
of the ball, but eventually Bracknell got to within five metres of the Derby
line, and won a penalty. I think it was the ferocity of the Derby defence, that
made Bracknell elect to kick for goal. Either way, they got the score, leading
by 3-0. Some solid play followed by the Derby team, not known for panicking
these days, great hits from amongst others, Jamie & Callum, nice half breaks
from Matt H & Rory. Great tactical kicking by Eddie, forcing the Bracknell lads
to keep walking back towards their line. Having got great field position, our
pressure eventually told, when the ball zipped through some quick hands to Rory,
for him to round the player mismatch. Suffice to say the last defender for
Bracknell, is a bigger lover of pies than our Irish speedster, but he still did
enough to force Rory right out to the touchline. So, cometh the hour, cometh the
man, step up Mr Eddie Worthington, stroking the ball over from right out on the
touchline, class man, sheer class!! 7-3 to Derby, but soon after Bracknell
coming close, striking the post with a penalty, Captain Matt being first to
react & mop up the rebounding ball.
A second Bracknell penalty success did soon
follow, bringing the scores to within a point, 7-6 at half-time! Pass the
brandy!
As the second half kicked off, I was still
settling into my position as Bracknell, broke some poor first up tackling to
score wide out, making it 7-11, this would now test our lads mettle. Thankfully
the kick was missed, but Bracknell definitely had the upper hand territorially,
and came close to another try, which I believe was pulled back for a forward
pass. From my totally obscured, unable to see a thing position I could concur
with the officials, that it was a “mile forward, you cheating southern softies!”
Unfortunately, this move was from a “free ball” so with no advantage, the
original penalty under the sticks was awarded. From my totally obscured, unable
to see a thing position I could concur with my fellow Derby supporters that
“ref, you’re blind. . . sir!” Unable to appreciate we were only thinking of his
health, the penalty was not reversed, and the score crept up to 7-14, gulp! I’ve
gotta be honest, the rest of the half was a nerve jangling blur, I lost the
ability to make any notes for the report, I lost the ability to stand still,
thankfully the team lost none of their ability. Roared on by chants of “Derby,
Derby, Derby!” by the amazing supporters in the stand, every one to a man giving
it both tonsils, Derby eventually got a half break. A chip kick released Rory,
who with loads to do this time, squeezed in at the corner, 12-14. Eddie lad,
over to you, nerves of steel, he stroked his second touchline conversion over,
simply brilliant 14-14. Roxy commented in the after match speech, that last week
Eddie couldn’t hit a cows backside with a banjo, but today. . .wow!
(Incidentally, I went to test the hitting a cows backside theory, and am now one
banjo & three ribs down on the deal!).
The full time whistle followed after what
seemed an eternity, but great defence, making sure no Bracknell player was going
far over the advantage line! I had asked an RFU official near the tunnel at
7-14, what happened in the event of a tie, so was ecstatic to hear the ruling
confirmed on the public address that two tries to one, made Derby winners. The
contrasting faces of joy & sheer disbelieving pain from the two sets of players
as that announcement was made was quite a moment. The rousing and continuing
applause for Bracknell will do little to dull the pain of losing in such a
manner, having fought such a great battle, well played lads you did Bracknell
proud. So however did the mighty atoms of Derby, you were brilliant, current
captain Matt Holton, making sure our injured warrior captain Ross Macdonald
jointly picked up the shield with him, a great gesture!! Under 17 National RFU
Shield holders for 2008, fan-bloomin-tastic, first national winners for Derby
RUFC I understand. For those starting in 1999, I reckon it’s about 400 training
sessions, lads it was worth it. WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOU. (Now get your
homework done, and tidy your bedrooms, school or college in the morning.)
Well, what a good day. . . .Derby are in a
final of a NATIONAL competition! A flippin RFU, proper all singin, all dancing,
national bloomin competition! It seems a world away that Oundle game, watching
the opposition warm up, lookin ultra professional, us chuffed with the fact we
got there, and on time, even though the clocks had gone forward. Oundle looked
every bit the part, but Derby had the heart, we got through! Then Bromsgrove,
who if their web-site was correct, had conceded less points all season, than a
vicar has on his driving licence! They didn’t half sound the part, but Derby
came through, we had the heart! Then today, Keswick, with a good tradition in
this competition, (previous finalists I understand) couldn’t tear us apart, cos
Derby had the heart! Today, the lads growing confidence and self belief was
tangible from the warm up. Angry faces if a drill went wrong, angry faces as
they hit the tackle bags, angry faces as they realised they hadn’t set the video
for Eastenders omnibus (only jokin about that one, everyone has sky + these
days)! Testosterone permeated as they huddled before going to put on the match
shirts. After a wibbly wobbly campaign, this was at last the group of lads I
have watched for years, standing tall & remembering how strong they are! It
wouldn’t have surprised me, if there and then; they had fixed bayonets, pushed
Michael Caine aside and sent the Zulu packing!
The day started much calmer in our household,
we were after all, going to Macclesfield, known to us northerners as “Classy
Mac!” It seems to always have been a breeding ground for posh folk, you know the
type, useless buckles on their welly boots, turned up collars on polo shirts, no
Asda, no accents. I’d been up since dawn, ironing my underpants, polishing my
head, making sure it was skinny mochachocalaty in my flask, all the usual stuff
when visiting royalty. Off we headed, sign in the back of the car stating it was
the chauffeurs day off, so as to avoid being turned back at the gate. To be fair
I needn’t have bothered, the folk at Macc RUFC were as nice and normal as could
be. Save for the sausage cobs being made of venison & pheasant, you would never
have known this was the place where posh folk come from!
And so to the game, Derby dominating the early
exchanges, but with maybe a little too much adrenalin still flowing from Roxys
pre-match psyche up! In previous weeks, poor old Rox has had to stir the lads
into consciousness; today his talk had sent them into frenzy! Frothy mouthed
backs kickin when the simple pass was on, forwards not content with a
half-break, charging on, trying to take on the whole of Cumbria. Passes being
zipped out with all the vision of Stevie Wonders mole (called Pugh), when a
composed look and simple give, would have seen us score early. Derby did get
over the line first, only for the”wired for sound” touch judge to radio to the
ref a forward pass. Incidentally, that touch judge didn’t have naturally
curly hair; it was apparently the result of using the same headset in a
thunder storm affected match!
Derby were parked up in the Keswick half, but with no composure,
and more importantly no points. Then it happened, loose pass, great pick up,
great balance, great pace from the Keswick fly-half, against all the run of
play, we found ourselves 5-0 down! In hindsight, this was probably a good thing,
the lads drew breath, Roxy drew his sword and threatened to stick it where the
“sun don’t shine” unless the lads calmed down, and started to get composed in
the key areas.
I wouldn’t exactly say a Zen like calm
descended, but, the team responded, Sanj went close. Soon, a lovely sweeping
move followed, incisive break by young Chris, great back on the inside by Matt H
and parity at 5-5 was restored. Eddie set up another move with a great little
weighted “nine iron chip” the ball just evading our on rushing attackers. Derby
then forced a twenty two drop out with good pressure. A phase of less composed
play followed, with Derby putting itself under pressure, with complicated
options. Eventually Derby’s second try came from another rangy kick from Eddie
putting us in an attacking position fifteen metres out. Although we lost the
line out, the forwards, playing well as a unit, quickly turned the ball over and
we scored. 10-5, improved to 12-5. Sorry didn’t see who got the try, cos I was
dodging abuse from a lady who suggested I should keep my opinions to myself? (My
opinions as your ears will testify don’t go much beyond “coooooome on” &
“derbeeeee” but hey ho sorry lady, and sorry anonymous try scorer!) And so the
platform was set, Derby going forward again, set up initially by Alex’s great
kick off catch, who I thought had his best game in a Derby shirt for a long
time! Another sweeping move broke down on the right with Fraser recycling the
ball well, it swept to the left, the player becoming isolated, before, yep
Fraser was first there on the opposite wing! Derby got a bit bogged down, a
little bit of indecision resulted in Keswick’s right centre intercepting and
showing a fleet foot before being hauled down. Derby regained the ball and young
Chris made his fiftieth break of the half, going full length (with seemingly
boots rapidly turning to concrete) just getting over the line! 17-5, improved to
19-5! No more excitement before half time, time for a cuppa! (Or as its Macc, a
low cal skinny latte and a divine little Danish number. In reality it was a
dusty boiled sweet I’d found in my pocket & a go on my trusty flask, but don’t
tell.)
Now, the one thing that you could never accuse
our lads of, and that’s hiding in a game. Straight from the kick off, Keswick
made a try from nothing because of simple missed first up tackles, 19-10. Did
our lads start a blamathon (is that a word) no; inwardly, the lads who missed
the tackles, stepped up, and never missed another tackle all game. . . . . I
watched carefully! Derby responded with a great move between Josh, Fraser, Matt
H & Dan. Intricate handling right on the touch line taking us to within a
whisker, before Keswick killed the ball and Eddie slotted the resulting penalty,
22-10. Derby scored again, when we went through I don’t know how many forward
phases, typifying the confident patience. Sorry again, scorer anonymous, this
time not down to harassment, just me being too far away, and not having been to
Specsavers today! Derby then had to consolidate for a while, when one of our
replacements came on, wishing only to test out how the average Cumbrian sheep
farmers son dealt with a rampaging bull with its front hooves tied behind its
back!! The ref had little option but to “sin bin” said replacement, for failing
to attempt to use his arms in the tackle! The circus is in town next month,
probably best saving that stuff for any human cannon ball jobs! In a strange
way, going down to fourteen provided a good test. No way were they going to
concede, and literally carried the Keswick players away from our very precious
try line!!
Much like the Bromsgrove game, the lads (now
with several personnel changes) s...l...o...w...e...d things and stayed in
control, before unleashing for our final try, scored by Matt H, followed by the
quickest attack of cramp, and even quicker attack of abuse by his dad and (great
to see) Joe Cooper,to “get up!” Matt responded, Eddie just missed the touchline
conversion, game over.
I’m enjoying this ride & don’t want to get
off! Fair play lads & coaching staff, you are again making us proud. Nice one to
U16 lads playing out of their skins. Great to see Ross & Joe (and his mum & dad)
back in camp!! Last thanks to all mums n dads, on behalf of the lads, let’s get
to Worcester & get saucy (gettit?) with them southern teams, Matt H’s dad can
translate n everything!
Match report by L.R.Ridinghood and Photographs by Andrea
Sorry if this report doesn’t match your
recollection, it’s because this scribe didn’t know he was doing it! Anyhow as
far as I recall, we were fifty nil up by half time, when a white towel was
thrown onto the pitch, amongst brummy cries of “we can’t take any more, they are
so masterful!” Okay that’s not exactly how it went, but the lads were pretty
good, and made us all very proud.
The day started amongst 35,000 Barnsley folk
on the motorway, which is surreal enough for a Sunday morning. The gentle folk
of Barnsley were all heading down the M1 for there once in a lifetime trip to
Wembley for the F.A cup semi.
For many of them in fact it’s the first time they
had been anywhere south of Doncaster (otherwise known as the badlands) and
several passports could be seen in the vehicles (first time I’ve seen horse
drawn carts on the motorway). So because the motorway was congested, the team
had to hurry up through the traffic. Is it non pc to say we had to “bomb” it to
Coventry? (lads ask your dads about that one) Having arrived at Broadstreet RFC
we all realised that kick off would be delayed because the pitch was covered in
snow!!! Sadly Jamie Turners dad was not around to translate, but several of us
had watched sufficient episodes of Crossroads to pick up enough words from the
Birmingham officials to realise they were confident the game would go on with
only a short delay, once the bright sun had done its work.
So we watched the
teams warm up, Bromsgrove looking huge, (one second row could change the light
bulbs on the floodlights without the aid of a ladder) our lads hitting the
tackle bags hard, followed by the usual routine of our pack practicing drop
goals!!!!!! A quick round of who can remember the most of Geds 365 line out
moves (James Reid won it, with 2), then back into the dressing sheds for a final
brief from Roxy, Ged, and Scott (who looks far too like a skinny Andy Farrell
for my liking).
And so the game commenced in brilliant
sunshine, with Bromsgrove gaining early territorial advantage, but as proved to
be the pattern for the whole match unable to make a single dent in our solid
defence, it was lovely!! The early exchanges were punctuated (tell I went to
grammar school, ha ha) by several handling errors because of the bitterly cold
conditions. Bromsgrove did get there first points (and last ones) on the board
with a sweetly struck penalty. The points may have buoyed Bromsgrove, but to be
fair I think we all took heart from the fact they chose to take three from a
very good attacking position. On about the quarter hour mark, we did something
amazing. . . put the ball through more than two pairs of hands without a knock
on, simple backs move, out to Captain Matt Holton, who did his normal thing of
moving a lot quicker than he looks like he is going, to score a lovely try, 5-3
to those who speak proper like! Eddie missed the conversion, but that might
suggest his kicking was off, nothing could be further from the truth, as his
kicking from hand was nothing short of sensational. Several times when
Bromsgrove threatened , Eddie (from stupidly tight angles often)arrowed the ball
miles down touch to “walk em back!” Our second try should have been sponsored by
Argos, as it came from a catalogue of cock ups, loose pass, fluffed hack on,
fluffed pick up by Bromsgrove, bit ‘o’ pinball amongst a variety of legs, then a
decent hack on by an unknown leg, (actually I do know who it was, but a knee
that nobbly must remain nameless). Thankfully quality service was then resumed
as Jamie Turner, sprinted on, outpaced all defence, and picked up the awkwardly
low bouncing ball, whilst at full pace, to fall over the line and score. Never
have I seen such dexterity and poise since Frank tripped, carrying several pints
on tour in Italy, not one drop spilt, a special skill! Eddie was close with the
tricky kick, just not hitting the target. Derby withstood all the pressure, and
closed out the half, 10-3 to the good.
The second half on paper looks a nervy affair,
no points scored, only seven points in it at the start, but I can honestly say,
if Bromsgrove were still out there now ,I don’t think the lads would have let em
in! I was calmed by the fact we had two trys, so Bromsgrove needed to score
twice as a ten all draw would see Derby through on trys scored, I was reliably
informed by a very knowledgeable and young (its not only policemen) touch judge.
I really started to believe it was to be our day when Matt Fearn kicked high
over twenty nine other players, which on most other days would have just spat
the ball back to the opposition. . . .not today. The ball bounced right on its
end, back from whence it came over about twenty seven players straight into
Matts hands, nearly resulting in a third try. He couldn’t have done any better
had the ball been on a string!!! Derby then, in the words of my brethren from
Merseyside, “calmed down” ably led by the Derby scrum half Tom Rusga, who really
slowed the play down, and frustrated the heck out of the opposition, and the
oppositions coach on our touch, and the oppositions mums and dads on our touch,
and undoubtedly one of the oppositions girlfriends, had you been able to see her
behind the largest most ridiculous sunglasses I have ever seen, HGV’s have less
glass in em! Bromsgrove did get near the Derby line, once, near the end of the
game, but that was it. If Roxy could bottle that defence, he would cure the
common cold, as Bromsgrove never had a”sniff!” “Vicks”tory was ours, well done
to everyone, especially the U16’s who stepped in and looked every bit the part,
even getting a well earned MOM amongst em in Tom.
Blimey, Derby regional champs, semi-final of
the nationals to come. Not seen tons of Derby this year, but what I have seen
today, made me and everyone else very proud to be associated with the lads and
coaches. Cheers to Bromsgrove who were great in defeat, and very sporting, nice
set of folk. Now then watch out ooop north, ere we come for the semis!!!
Match Report by O.K.Cole and Photographs by
Adrian Holmes
2nd Mar'08: Derby v Willenhall
No Match report but there are
Photographs
from the game.
