Melbourne Rugby Football Club, Derbyshire - Melbourne 3rds 17 v 19 Notts Casuals

Melbourne 3rds 17 v 19 Notts Casuals

Written by Simon Brandon

Saturday, 25 September 2004

Notts. Casuals arrived with a young colts side made up mainly of backs. Melbourne had to loan two forward players to allow the game to be played as contested scrums.

Match Report

The two loaned players, Colin Topliss and Paul Sheldrake, played extremely well, as is normally the case when playing against your own club.

The game was played on the infamous sloping pitch, restored to its former glory. Melbourne lost the toss and was asked to play downhill in the first half.

The first phase saw the home side dominate their opponents; the Melbourne forwards drove the Notts. Eight back in each scrum, denying them any clean ball. This phase of play resulted in two first half tries for Andy Fulton and Matt Pipes.

Matt's try came as a result of a superb catch and drive by the Melbourne forwards. Ed Sutton took clean ball at eight, the pack mauled to the Notts. try line and Matt darted over for his first try in 3 years. (He hasn't played for that long!)

Although Melbourne out muscled Notts. Their loose play was scrappy. On several occasions the ball was given away without any phases being put together. This scrappy play resulted in a try for the Notts. backs, ball was given away in midfield and a quick wide move was finished off by the Notts. outside centre to bring them right back into the game.

With the prospect of playing uphill looming several Melbourne old heads decided to sit out the second half and let the youngsters have a go. Roger Lucas departed to milk, Andy Fulton left the field for a breather and Roger Jones, our new Welsh Prop was asked to make way for Breeney.

Due to the early retirement of loaned prop Paul Sheldrake, referee Kev Brown ordered uncontested scrums. This suited the loose play of Notts. and opened the game up.

Melbourne conceded two more tries and two conversions before scoring late on. Again forward dominance resulted in a 10 yard driving maul, finished off by Ed Sutton. Unfortunately Jimmy Wilcox missed the difficult conversion which would have tied game.

Finally, with great pleasure, Melbourne gave senior debuts to Luke Thomas and Roger Jones.