Match Report

Melbourne looked like running away with the game, but Derby upped their game in the second half and never gave, grabbing a late consolation try.

Rob Foster, Pop Lakin (2), Judgey (hungover and to be replaced by Salty's mate Andy Heron), Pete Ilott, Graham Smedley, James Perry and Ducky scored tries, with Rob converting 2. Rob and Pez also hit a post each later on.

Melbourne were dominant in the scrum, taking a lot of Derbys ball and disrupting any ball that they hooked. The front row were Pete Birchall, John James (who threw an exquisite reverse pass to Rob Foster) and Ducky scrummaged well. Kev Holdgate and Ed Sutton combined effectively on the second row.

Salty played 9, Rob 10, Pete Ilott and Graham Smedley in the centre with Will Anderson and Leechy on the wings. Pez was 15.

All the first half tries were scored from close range Pop Judgey Rob Pete Smedley and Ducky I think. Ducky's try (according to Ducky) was memorable but I truly cannot remember it. Apparently it had pace, power, a dummy (a reverse pass after being told of JJs) and was finished from well inside our own half.

Melbourne were generally quicker to the breakdown and turned over a lot of Derby ball. Judgey, after scoring and laughing at Kier, went off with an injury (malingering, hungover student type injury). He was replaced by Salty's mate Andy (a South African). He moaned about a bit of physical later on. It's a good job he was not Welsh as he would have been kicked off the park.

From Melbourne's own moves, running away from the support, finding support when needed, a couple of knock ons and forward passess were the main problems.

Paul Devanney came on in the second half, with the backs swapping places. Pop scored from a good turnover in the midfield, the ball being recycled back for pop to score on the right wing. Pez scored from a break from Pete Ilott in the centre, who (finally) learnt how to run and pass at the same time, drawing the full back for Pez to score unopposed. Some one else scored?? Pete (now sulking on the wing) took an inside pass off Rob to break clear. Again he passed while running! This time to a shocked Rob Foster. Everyone was shouting 'Leechy' 'Leechy', so Rob passed to Leechy who knocked on with the line at his mercy.

Mandy came on at number 8 with the packed being jigged around.

Derby scored a deserved consolation try.

Thanks to Macer for refereeing. Macer did try desperately hard to yellow card Kier, but could not find a justifiable reason.