The arrival of Newark,
who were without a league win all season, gave Derby UKD a chance to build on
last weeks excellent performance.
Martin Dodds and Paul
Burrows came into the side, with Kirk Ashan and Rob Lucas on the bench.
Newark kicked off, but it
was Derby UKD who were first into their stride.
A couple of opportunities
were wasted, with penalties missing touch, before Derby UKD took the lead after
13 minutes.
A Brett Beckham pass,
allowed Craig Hughes to race clear and touch down.
4 minutes later, the lead
was doubled. Tim Lawson made a strong run and this time it was Beckham himself
who scored, his 7th try of the season.
The impressive Brett
Beckham made a break, 6 minutes before the half ended, allowing Craig Hughes to
score again.
Brett Beckham then
completed the scoring for the half, by converting the try and kicking a later
penalty.
20 – 0 at the interval
was a fair reflection of the play, could Derby UKD now step up and put a big
score on the board ?
The answer was: sort of
!
Newark dominated the
half, in terms of territory, but, for all the good work their forwards did, the
Newark backs were unable to take their chances.
It took Derby UKD 24
minutes to score, with virtually their first attack of the half. Martin Kent,
was the man who touched down, under the posts, making the conversion a formality
for Beckham.
3 minutes later, Derby
UKD scored again and again Kent was involved. His inside pass found Craig
Hughes, who raced away to complete his hat trick. Brett Beckham again added the
extra 2 points.
Newark kept battling away
and were giving the Derby UKD pack a tough afternoon. Their persistence was
rewarded with an injury time try for Faua’a.
It looked as if Newark
had had the last word, but, man of the match, Craig Hughes broke clear again,
allowing Filini Mafi to score a try, which Brett Beckham duly converted.
41 – 5 probably flattered
Derby UKD. They certainly didn’t reach the heights of the Kettering game and
will need to play better, given some tough challenges ahead. The 2 unbeaten
sides in the league, Old Northamptonians and Loughborough Students are 3 of the
next 5 league fixtures. Then there is the small matter of National League side
Preston Grasshoppers next week !
Match Report by Richard Bambra
