Derby UKD shuffled the
backs for this top of the table clash with the Students. Nick Coley was the
outside centre, Brett Beckham the fly half, Tim Lawson moved to the wing
allowing Alex Preece to play at full back. The forwards saw debutant Harry
Elliott selected at number 8; what an inspired selection that proved to be !
Derby UKD were the first
to show and took the lead after 7 minutes. Tim Lawson received the ball on the
wing, sent 2 defenders outside with a dummy, went inside and scored under the
posts. Brett Beckham converted.
The Students hit back 10
minutes later. A spell of pressure allowed Dan Falvey to score an unconverted
try.
With 12 minutes of the
half remaining Harry Elliot was sent to the sin bin. While he was off the pitch
both Brett Beckham and Nick Coley missed with long range penalty attempts.
Derby UKD continued to
press, but disaster struck 2 minutes before the break. A pass was intercepted,
by the Students and they struck from 70 metres. Andrew Wright touching down to
give them the lead at half time, 10 – 7.
After the break, which
for the Students consisted of a trip to the dressing room, unusual at this
level, Derby UKD again started well.
A string of promising
moves came to nothing, but Derby UKD were keeping and recycling the ball with
great aplomb, with man of the match Harry Elliott everywhere.
They finally got their
just rewards when Nick Coley slotted a penalty to tie the scores, after 63
minutes.
This was the score with 1
minute remaining. What drama then occurred.
The Students, with the
help of 20 metres for dissent, kicked a penalty into the corner. The line out
was stopped illegally. The referee warned a penalty try was on the cards and
duly awarded one at the next line out. Hood converted and as the teams returned
to half way, Mark Bradley was shown a yellow card.
The game seemed lost as
injury time began, but Derby UKD had other ideas. They drove their way forward
with such intensity that the Students were rocked. A driving maul saw 13 Derby
UKD players involved. It stopped just short of the line, but the ball was
recycled and Alex Preece forced his way through 2 tackles to score. The crowd
erupted, but the conversion was still required. Never a doubt, as Nick Coley
put the ball between the posts.
Still the drama wasn’t
over as Nick Coley had a long range penalty fall just short. The Students were
not content to bang the ball out and end the game, but ran the ball back and a
frantic period of “sevens like” rugby ensued. Finally the ball was lost and the
final whistle went.
Derby UKD came of age in
this game with a magnificent performance of controlled rugby. If they play like
this for the rest of the season then success is bound to follow.
Come on Derby UKD !
Match Report by
Richard Bambra
