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After last week's 17-0 victory over Tupton, Melbourne had the pleasure
of playing them again, this time at their place in a league and Derbyshire Cup double header.
Match Report
Last season we had lost the corresponding fixture
and we knew the game would be tough following the previous weeks match.
The Melbourne team showed a few changes, with probably the best pack
we have available playing, Merve switching to prop. Pete Birchall
starting, and Ian Lucas and Keir returning in the back row. The Melbourne
backs had a few issues with Mat Brown stepping in for the injured
Devanny and Andy Watts on the wing.
The Tupton pitch is wide and in quite good condition for a running
game, but there was a gale blowing to the bottom right hand corner
of the pitch.
Tupton elected to kick with the wind in the first half. Melbourne
probably expected a re run of the previous week where they would hold
on in the first half against the wind and prevent Tupton from scoring
and then pull away in the 2nd half. The Tupton team was strengthened
from the week before with a returning hooker, new back row and the
usual aggressive scrum half.
  
For the first 5 or ten minutes Tupton used the wind well and got
deep into the Melbourne 22, with a lot of good pressure that was only
relieved when Melbourne were awarded a penalty in the scrum. From
then on in Melbourne by and large managed to keep Tupton away from
the danger zone and to exert some pressure themselves.
The line out was a different proposition from the week before, with
new back row Tupton had more options and were able to secure their
own ball more often than not and mess with the Melbourne throw a bit.
The Melbourne scrums were solid
Melbourne manufactured a couple of chance to score, creating good
overlaps but a combination of Judgie getting white line fever and
a couple of knock on meant they came to nothing. Highlight of the
half for many were the usual Biggins antic's, first a Tupton back
row was sin binned for punching him, and then a few minutes later
he was called a puff after he robbed the ball at the back of a scrum.
Macer was noticeable winning ball on the ground, but all in all Melbourne
never really put it together, no one really made a clean break, though
to be fair neither did Tupton, who large centre limped off with a
slightly dubious 'blood' injury.
  
The wind was so strong that some pass's by Melbourne simply hung
in mid air and this led to players being tackled man and ball.
Tupton did miss a kick at goal but with the last kick of the half
they got another kick and managed to go in 3-0 ahead and very fired
up.
Merve seemed calm at half time and there seemed to be a feeling that
Melbourne could turn in around.
The 2nd half started and we expected to camp in the Tupton half using
the strong wind, how wrong we were, Tupton were really fired up and
Melbourne seemed a bit lack luster, Melbourne also seemed to have
lost the ref who was awarding penalty after penalty against us. Tupton
got within 10 metres of the Melbourne line and set up camp for the
next 15 minutes, they had a number of short penalties, scrums, and
lineouts all off which Melbourne defended well, but for some reason
or other we could not clear our lines. Tupton brought back on their
big centre and tried to batter their way across the line, without
using the spaces out wide. In the end they were awarded a scrum 5
meters out, they won the ball and drove Melbourne back at a rate of
knots, to score a pushover 8-0.
 
Melbourne had 25 minutes late to turn things around, and immediately
went on the attack, however Pete Bichall twisted something and had
to be replaced by Dave Lowson. Melbourne piled on the pressure and
managed to get the ball across the Tupton line but were held up.
The Melbourne forwards were now driving well and from a Tupton scrum
10 meters out won the ball against the head and quick ball from Matt
saw Rob Foster nipp into score a try, converted by Euan 8-7. From
the restart which did not make 10 meters Melbourne had another scrum
and from this ball kicked Tupton into the bottom corner, after a spell
of more pressure, Melbourne were awarded a penalty some way out, which
Euan converted beautifully 10-8. Steve Bell came on for the injured
Keir and the last 10 minutes were played out with few incidents, Tupton
who had given their all were going down injured left right and centre
and Melbourne were able to soak up any pressure they tried to exert.
Final score 10-8 but Tupton had given us a scare. Melbourne did not
really get going and the usually prolific Stringer did not get a run
in the Tupton half until the last 20 minutes. Some how things had
not quite clicked, but last year Melbourne would have lost a game
like this to a fast improving Tupton team.
 
Captain Merve was just pleased to get the points and to go top of
the league. But we will have to raise our game to beat Leesbrook next
week.
New Tupton pub with high class meat raffle still in place.
Team
- Birchall
- Lakin
- Barr
- Judge
- Welsh
- Macer
- Biggins
- Lucas
- Brown
- Holden
- Watts
- Foster
- Middleton
- Stringer
- Sylvestor
- Lowson
- Bell
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