POOL GAMES  

Amersham & Chilton 5 - 0 Derby  

Amersham had won their group in each of the last two years and had started the festival with a convincing win so the Derby team knew what they were up against.  

From the kick-off, the Derby pack took the game to their opponents, matching them in the loose and generally having the better of the set pieces.  The backs, prompted by fly half Kent looked to attack with width and pace with Axelson making some serious dents in the Amersham defence.  

However Amersham came back hard and took the lead through a penalty try, awarded for a high tackle although the Amersham coaches sportingly agreed that they were fortunate to get this decision.  

Derby refused to let their heads drop and proceeded to dominate possession and territory but were unable to secure the score they deserved despite George Castledine, George Tresidder and Reece Harrison going close.    

In the end it was the Amersham coaches who were grateful to hear the final whistle.

Derby 10 - 00 Dursley  

The second pool game saw Derby up against Dursley, who were the unknown quantity in the group.  However Derby managed a comfortable win, despite turning in their worst performance of the game.  

Following their usual game plan, Derby dominated territory, forcing their opponents to attack from deep.  Each time they did so they were met with a barrage of tackles and ferocious rucking.  

At half time the score was 0-0 but Derby soon took the lead through a determined try from George Tresidder.  Unfortunately this was to be his only try of the festival as a reoccurrence of an old injury forced his retirement from the festival.  

The result was put beyond doubt when following a period of sustained forward pressure, a long pass from scrum half Costello found winger Harry Young who stormed over in the corner.  

The final pool game on day 1 pitted the side against old foes Sandal – acknowledged as one of the strongest teams at this age group.  They had already won two games by the maximum score of six tries to nil but found Derby in determined mood.  

With the injury to Tresidder and with full back George Castledine nursing a bruised ankle, the decision was made to rest a number of players.  Not that you would have noticed given the whole heartedness and quality of the performance. 

Sandal scored twice early on but were then forced to defend hard and work across the pitch to withstand the waves of Derby pressure.  Eventually Sandal’s superior technique was rewarded by two further scores.  Nevertheless, Derby were the first team to force Sandal to play a full match.  

Derby 15 – 00 Northampton Old Scouts  

For the third year running, we were matched with Old Scouts and for the third time recorded a victory.  

Playing the best rugby they have played all season, Derby dominated the game and Old Scouts were rare visitors to the Derby half throughout the game. 

From the first kick off when Marcus ‘Jonah Lomu’ Axelson made a 30 metre drive into the Old Scouts half the result was never in doubt.  By half time he had scored two awesome tries, allowing several changes to be made at half time.  

In the second half, Derby were again camped in the Old Scouts half.  The final score came after a period of pressure based on some phenomenal forward driving lead by James Brentnall and George Groom.  When the ball was moved wide, Tom Kent shredded the defence before unselfishly putting centre David Eades away for the score.  

Derby 00 - 15 West Norfolk  

With fourth place secured, Derby again rested some players but the strength in depth of the squad was on display as West Norfolk were made to work hard for their win.  

Fielding a virtually full strength team, Norfolk could not breakdown a resolute Derby defence and some excellent tactical kicking from Eades helped keep the line intact.  

In the second half however West Norfolk were able to create enough openings to win the game comfortably but Derby had done enough to qualify for the Plate tournament for the first time. 

PLATE QUARTER FINAL  

Derby 0 - 0 Old Northamptonians  

In a rematch of last year’s Bowl semi-final, the Derby team found themselves up against a strong ONs team and what followed was a titanic struggle with both defences coming out on top.  

PLATE SEMI FINAL  

Derby 00 - 10 Ellingham & Ringwood  

Semi-final opponents Ellingham & Ringwood had made the Twickenham final in each of the last two years and had beaten Cup winners Teddington in the group stages so a hard match was anticipated.  And that is exactly what materialised.  

Straight from the kick-off Ellingham looked to work the ball wide and were rewarded with a superb try fro their outstanding full back.  A second try two minutes later left Derby with a mountain to climb – and this is what they attempted to do.  

OVERALL  

This squad continues to go from strength to strength.  They competed with some of the best teams in the country and gave an excellent account of themselves, being commended for their sportsmanship and their approach to the game.  As a result we will have several new fixtures next year.  

As coaches, we could ask no more of the players.  They are a credit to themselves, their parents and Derby RFC.  

Thanks are due to all the parents for their help and support.  Without you all, these lads could not be as successful as they are, and as they will continue to be!