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2008/09 Season
Match
Reports |
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go to the Ladies Seniors Fixtures & Results page
click here |
| All
Ladies XV match reports for 2008/09 will be listed within this page, please use the
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26th
Apr'09: Derby Vipers 32 - 05 Mellish Ladies |
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No match report, but here's a link to the
Photograph Gallery
by Brian Leverington. |
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17th Jan'09:
Derby Vipers 00 - 65 Loughborough Ladies II |
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No match report, but here's a link to the
Photograph Gallery
by Brian Leverington. |
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23rd
Nov'08: Mellish 00 - 15 Derby Vipers |
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After a couple of cancelled games, the Vipers
were champing at the bit and ready for a game. Even the bitterly cold
temperature and howling wind (which made it feel like our internal organs were
freezing) couldn’t dampen their spirits as they prepared to take on Mellish.
With Siobhan nursing a slight knock to her shoulder, Mitch took on the role of
Captain for the game – so for obvious reasons the pep-talk is staying in the
dressing-room!
Straight from the kickoff Vipers were into the Mellish half, with a scrum on the
10m line. After giving away a penalty but quickly turning the ball over and
winning a penalty of their own, Mitch and Steff made 30 yards, then T picked
from No 8 to move the ball into the Mellish 22. When Mellish gained possession
they chose to try and run it clear, but a high-pressure defence from Vipers
caused Mellish to fumble and concede the scrum.
The play remained in Mellish's 22, and when the ball was moved down the line the
backs nearly scored on the first attempt, but were stopped just 5m short.
Mellish kicked clear to halfway, but a strong break from T off the scrum and a
crash ball from Leanne at the resulting ruck made good ground, and support from
Mitch and Debs allowed Pash through for the first score of the game. 5 - 0.
For the rest of the half the play was all Derby, and apart from a couple of long
clearance kicks the play was within the Mellish 22, with three or four attacks
being repelled within the last 5m. In the windy conditions most of the play was
around the forwards, although with some strong backs not being used some
opportunities went begging, and despite some excellent strong defending the
halftime score of 5-0 may have flattered Mellish a little.
A strong return of the Mellish kickoff resulted in Lisa breaking down the wing,
and took the Vipers forward about 20m. The ball was spilt in the tackle, but
from the scrum Pash nailed the 10, and Mitch intercepted her desperate pass to
power over and doubled the score.
T returned the next kickoff, and after an attacking kick Vipers were straight
back into the Mellish 22, and the play remained there as Vipers continued to
attack but were repeatedly stopped by some powerful defending. After being
awarded a penalty 15m out, Vipers were held up on the line - but after being
denied three times and attacking hard from the resulting scrums Leanne was able
to break through and increase the lead to 15-0.
Mellish held their spirits, and were able to
put together their first genuine attack, breaking into the Vipers half for the
first time, but a scramble defence left Mellish with no option but to try and
kick through and Lorraine calmly put the ball into touch. A superb steal by Steff allowed Vipers to kick clear, and for the rest of the game possession was
about even, with most of the play around the halfway line.
This was another good performance in difficult conditions, and a morale-boosting
score to take to the next game where Vipers hope to secure their first home win
of the season.
Match Report by Steve Giller |
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26th
Oct'08: Derby Vipers 00 - 08 Ripley Rhinos |
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For the first time this season, the tables
were turned - the weather much more suited to playing than watching, for a
change!
After the disappointment on HYMS having to withdraw from the league, Vipers were
looking forward to their first home game of the season, and against local rivals
Ripley Rhinos it was always going to be an entertaining and hard-fought match,
and a test of whether the lessons from the Loughborough game had been learned.
As with the Chesterfield match, Rhinos had a much heavier pack,
and knowing that there was quality in the back line meant that Vipers needed to
be on their game in all areas.
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The game started very evenly, with
most of the play in the centre of the pitch, and with some very good
support play the Vipers were just edging both possession and territory
but solid defending from Rhinos prevented any real penetration. When the
possession was reversed it was much the same story, with the Vipers'
defence up quickly and tackling well the Rhinos were struggling to make
ground. The game continued to be closely fought, mostly just inside
Rhino's half until the centres combined to break Vipers' defence and
after 20 minutes score the only try of the game.
Vipers didn't allow conceding the 5 points to alter their game, and the
majority of the rest of the half was played, if anything, further into
the Rhinos territory, but with a slippery ball and a few over-ambitious
passes, combined with some big hits from the Rhinos defence they were
unable to break through.
In the second half both teams stepped up the pressure and again the
possession and territory was evenly matched. In the muddy conditions
there were plenty of fumbles, and both packs worked very hard through
numerous scrums, without either getting an advantage over the other.
Both defences were in the oppositions' faces, pressuring, tackling and
forcing errors, preventing any real breakthroughs, until Rhinos
eventually breached Vipers' line. The attack was halted, but giving away
a penalty in kicking range raised the score to 8-0.
From then on the game was really played in Rhinos' half,
with Vipers being repeatedly thwarted by the solid defending until,
after a consistent period of 15 minutes pressurising the line the Vipers
took the ball over, only to have it called held-up and were denied the
points with 7 minutes to go. |
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Rhinos continued to hold their ground, and the
final score remained Vipers 00 v 08 Rhinos.
All the players gave great performances, but special mention should be made of
the two wingers, Jess and Lisa who, in the absence of regular players, stepped
in to be lifted in the line-outs, to Siobhan who broke her collarbone whilst
successfully charging down Rhinos' clearance, and to Kerrie, who played almost
every position on the park during the game!
A big thank-you as well to the supporters, it was fantastic to see every level
of the Club represented on the touchline, from Minis up to Vets, and the support
is greatly appreciated. Match Report by
Steve Giller |
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12th
Oct'08: Loughborough 34 - 05 Derby Vipers |
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No match report at the moment but here's a link
to the
Photograph Gallery by Steve Giller. |
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21st Sep'08:
Chesterfield Panthers 12 - 22 Derby Vipers |
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A glorious day for watching rugby; sunshine, a
cooling (but not too cooling) breeze and the ground moist but firm underfoot.
Not quite so ideal for the players - good playing conditions but the heat was
always going to play its part.
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Before the match there were a few
nerves showing, understandably for a first league match - indeed for
some a first match - but after a good warm-up the atmosphere in the
changing room was improving all the time. With the focus on playing to
our strengths, not being bullied into someone else's game and just
putting on the best performance they could the Vipers took to the field
in good spirits. Against a very
strong, heavy pack with a back line known to be able to handle and run
well the initial performance was very good - The Vipers were standing up
to the forwards well, and closing down the backs, and it took until
about 15 minutes in before a period of consistent pressure around the
middle of the park resulted in a string of good passing and running,
leaving Chesterfield with space out wide for the full back to run
through and score the first points of the game.
Rather than allow the breakthrough to unsettle them,
Vipers tightened up their game, and plugged the gaps in their defence,
while upping the pressure on the Chesterfield attack. With the
possession fairly even it took about another 15 minutes for the next
score. From a sequence of strong attacks, which the Panthers defended
strongly Vipers were awarded a penalty, which was taken to with 5m by
Mitch, and from the resulting scrum Pash wriggled and squirmed her way
through to level the score. For
the next 10 minutes noone could take control of the game, but the Vipers
seemed to have a slight edge, and play was mainly in the Panthers' half.
A number of powerful attacks by the Vipers were defended strongly and
the Panther managed to mount some counterattacks, but the tide was
moving gradually toward the Panthers' line and after being stalled
briefly a few metres from the line Mitch powered the ball over to put
Vipers ahead. With a slender
lead at half time, the focus was on keeping the game tight, and being
ready for Panthers to mount a strong retaliation after the restart,
which proved to be wise words indeed.
With play once again centred either side of the halfway
line, and possession fairly even some deft passing and confident running
involving the whole of the Vipers' back line resulting in Amanda
scorching down the touchline with Lorraine, Katie and Pash in hot
pursuit to score 6 minutes into the half.
About 5 minutes later, after almost gifting possession
trying to run out from under their own posts, Vipers got the breakaway
right at the second attempt, the forwards powering out of the danger
area, recycling the ball and allowing the backs to mount a fast attack.
Debbie and Amanda worked to break the Panthers' defensive line, leaving
Leanne to sprint home from about 40 yards out with Lisa and Katy in
support. After a shameless display of flamboyance the ball was finally
grounded for the only converted Vipers score of the game.
Panthers really turned up the heat at this stage, and
without dominating possession they clearly had the upper hand. Vipers
had a few good attacks, and did get close to the Panthers' line, but
most of the play was in the Vipers' half, and there were two or three
try-saving tackles within 5m of the line. The pressure eventually paid
off for the Panthers and they drove the ball home under the posts for
their converted try after about 25 minutes of the second half.
Vipers concentrated on not letting any more momentum turn
to the Panthers, and for the remainder of the game possession and
territory was pretty much even.
With the final score at Panthers 12 - 22 Vipers and having given a
performance way above anyone's expectations an excellent start to the
first league match was rounded off by T being soundly beaten in the
after-match drinking. |
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A fantastic day, an excellent result, and a
performance to be proud of. Let's hope Derby can provide a sizeable home crowd
on October 5th, and that the Vipers can entertain them with another performance
of this quality. Match Report &
Photographs by Steve Giller |
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31st
Aug'08: Derby Vipers 00 - 29 Deeping Devils |
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No match report from this pre-season friendly
just a link to the
Photograph Gallery
by Brian Leverington. |
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