A lovely autumn day
greeted the sides, as they trotted out, onto the Haslams turf.
Filini Mafi, John Heggie
and Nick Coley returned from injury, for Derby UKD.
Paviors kicked off and
quickly took charge. They spent the first 10 minutes of the game camped in the
Derby UKD 22, spurning at least one kick at goal, in favour of a scrum.
This policy proved
costly, when Derby UKD struck after 14 minutes. Nick Southern broke off the
back of a scrum, making huge inroads. Nick Coley took the ball on and fed Simon
Rolfs. He made ground before finding Filini Mafi, cutting back, to score his 4th
try of the season.
Paviors replied, after 30
minutes, when fly half Graney, kicked a penalty.
Derby UKD ended the half
in the ascendancy. A penalty was kicked to touch, in the corner. The line out
was taken, before Paviors collapsed, culminating in a penalty. The quick tap
was illegally halted, resulting in a penalty try to Derby UKD. Brett Beckham
kicked the conversion, leaving Derby UKD ahead 12 – 3 at the break.
An inauspicious start to
the half, saw Derby UKD kick the ball straight out.
Paviors, again, started
the stronger, putting pressure on the home side. Eventually, the Paviors’
forwards controlled the ball close to the Derby UKD try line, allowing scrum
half, Jacques, to touch the ball down.
This was turning into a
real test for the Derby UKD side, with a Paviors side that competed for
everything.
Man of the match, Kirk
Ashan, not content with out-scrummaging whichever prop Paviors put against him,
received the ball 20 metres from the line. Nobody got close, as he scored under
the posts, allowing Brett Beckham to convert.
Derby UKD were in the
clear, Paviors put some late pressure on, but good defence, including Richard
Sparkes stealing Paviors’ line out ball, ensured the game was won.
The final whistle blew;
it had not been a great game of rugby, but Derby UKD had clinched their 4th
win of the season.
A trip to Kettering,
where Derby UKD were relegated from Midlands 1, two seasons ago, awaits next
week. The result of this game will tell us a lot about possible outcomes to
this season.
Come on Derby UKD !
Match Report by Richard Bambra
