Something had to give – both teams were without points, after today at least one team would be on the scoreboard.

The game started in drizzle. Jesse Macrae, made his debut in the second row as Wellingborough kicked off. Unfortunately it proved to be an inauspicious start for Derby; they failed to deal with the kick off and knocked on.

Unfortunately, Derby transgressed from the kick off and Dyer narrowed the gap, with a penalty.

Derby were in complete control at this stage, as the bigger Wellingborough pack started to tire.

Derby confirmed their victory with a try just before the end. Derby pressed again and were held up, just short of the line. The ball was recycled and Ben Gatehouse picked up and forced his way over for his first try for the club. Paul Burrows added the conversion and Derby were worthy victors by 30 – 10.

This was a much better performance, how good the opposition were is probably open to debate, but a win is a win ! After all, it is the first time this season we have been able to enjoy a post match pint and recall a victory !

A game then of two halves with the second being a half too far for depleted Derby.

For the first 40 minutes Derby played with great shape and verve and at this point were unfortunate indeed to be 10 – 13 down. They had competed with, and truly frustrated a Scunthorpe side well fancied to bounce back up into Midlands Division One.

Paul Archer now put in a couple of try-saving tackles but Scunthorpe where not to be denied as classy winger Viasmoso scored again, and again, and yet again with ever growing and greater aplomb.

A 56 – 10 defeat is an obvious drubbing yet Derby can still take heart from their stirring first half performance that enabled stand-off Tom Good to show what he is capable of playing behind controlled possession. This team effort needs to be replicated for the full 80 minutes at home next week against fellow strugglers Wellingborough. The season begins or maybe ends next Saturday. C’mon Derbs!

Match Report by Paul Richardson

Halloween was over, Bonfire Night was approaching; November had arrived ! Could Derby gain their first win of the season and set off some fireworks of their own ? The answer was a resounding no; in fact a second successive 38 point defeat leaves Derby deep in trouble.

With the wind and the rain prevailing this match was always likely to be a scrappy, niggley affair and so it proved with the referee handing out six yellow cards, three to either side and numerous “Don’t do that agains!” to boot.

Another positive to report is that of number 8 Ben Smart, who is learning from past mistakes, steadily improving and marking that position as his own.

At centre, Ben Marlow made a couple of tasty runs and it was good to see Rod Muir back in the side after a long absence.

It would be remiss not to mention another back-row player, Mansfield’s Ben Holmes, who was in both defence and attack, a belligerent thorn in the side of the Derby XV throughout the match.

Paul Burrows kicked Derby’s only score of the day.

Match Report by Paul Richardson

Derby entertained Burton in the first round of the EDF Intermediate Cup. It appeared to be Burton’s first visit to Haslams and they certainly had had the better start to the season, having won 4 of their first 5 games to lie 4th in Midland 2 West.

Derby kicked off, with Paul Burrows making his first appearance of the season at fly half. Phil Robinson returned at scrum half, while Richie Robinson and John Heggie were back in the back row.

Derby kicked off and made a positive start, taking the lead after only 2 minutes through a Simon Rolfs penalty.

Things got even better for Derby 11 minutes later with a lovely try. Tom Good broke clear and timed his pass to perfection allowing Ben Marlow to score for the second week in a row. With Simon Rolfs adding the conversion, Derby were 10 points clear.

The game was lost because Burton scored a converted try with 5 minutes remaining, leaving Derby out of the cup.

This was a poor performance from Derby; they gave the ball away cheaply and didn’t put Burton under any significant pressure, despite having a man extra, until too late in the game.

Burton deserved to progress to the next round; Derby need to play better than this, otherwise it will be a long season. At least we can concentrate on the league !

Come on Derby. 

In the Clubhouse before the game there was only one topic of conversation – Derby had lost their single league point of the season. The RFU ruling was that because Derby had gone to uncontested scrums, they would have to return to Leighton Buzzard to replay the game !

Paviors were today’s opponents. They kicked off and for the first 7 minutes Derby appeared to be still thinking about the Leighton Buzzard decision.

Derby kept trying, with good runs from Craig Hughes and Ben Marlow being particularly impressive. Paviors defence remained strong and Derby were unable to breach it.

For the second week in a row Derby finished with 14 players, as having used all replacements, Adam Delaney was unable to finish the game.

The final whistle saw Paviors acclaiming a 21 -8 victory and, in truth, they deserved to win.

Derby are definitely improving by the game; the young team are getting used to playing with each other and continuity is improving week on week.

Derby travelled to Wrights Meadow, looking for their first win of the season. The only change from the Dunstablian defeat was at prop, with Martin Dodds coming in for his first start of the season.

Leighton Buzzard kicked off, fresh from a good win over Matlock. Derby had the advantage of a strong wind in the first half, but were playing uphill.

Leighton Buzzard started strongly, pressing Derby back, but on 12 minutes Derby struck. A line out was won and a Phil Maddocks break allowed the ball to be passed to Tom Morgan, who touched down for his 3rd try of the season.

2 minutes later, Derby scored again ! This time, a Simon Rolfs break allowed Derby to advance on the Leighton Buzzard line and Adam Delaney was on hand to score.

Simon Rolfs added the conversion and Derby were 12 clear.

Leighton Buzzard got back into the game after 25 minutes. Derby missed touch with a clearing kick and then missed tackles to concede a converted try.

On the stroke of half time, it was the turn of Ben Marlow and Craig Hughes to make breaks which allowed John Heggie to score under the posts. Simon Rolfs duly converted and Derby were 19 – 7 up at half time.

Derby had played well, but faced a tough 2nd half, into the wind, against a bigger side – could they hang on ?

Injuries were taking a toll, Eldon Atherton had already left the field and Richie Robinson joined him not long into the half, leaving full back Phil Maddocks to fill in, in the back row.

8 minutes into the half a Leighton Buzzard prop received a serious looking injury, serious enough to necessitate a change of pitch and an ambulance, which took the rest of the game to move him. All at Derby RFC hope that it is not as serious as it looked and send their best wishes.

The game restarted and Adam Delaney was almost immediately sent to the sin bin.

It was all Leighton Buzzard at this stage, with Derby unable to break out of their own half. A try had to come; it did with 20 minutes to go, narrowing the gap to 5 points.

Simon Long limped off, followed not long after by Ben Coombes. This had the double effect of Derby playing with 14 men for the rest of the game and uncontested scrums.

Leighton Buzzard continued to press; Derby showed real passion and commitment to keep them out. Just when it looked as if Derby had done enough, Leighton Buzzard scored in the corner. The conversion was to be the last kick of the game, to win it for Leighton Buzzard. Fortunately for Derby it missed, the referee blew and a draw was the result !

Derby are clearly improving and despite being under pressure for large parts of the game, battled on to claim a draw.

League points are on the board, the first win would be nice, next week, against Paviors. That will not be easy, as they have just beaten Dunstablians 24 – 8 !

Come on Derby !

Another glorious day greeted the teams, as Dunstablians kicked off. Derby again shuffled their side, making 4 changes from the disappointing performance against Matlock. The most significant being the return of John Heggie, making his 70th appearance for the first XV. How Derby have missed him – he tackled all day, stopping many Dunstablians attacks in their tracks.

It didn’t take long for Dunstablians to score – 3 minutes in fact, with winger Boland touching down and Murphy converting.

Dunstablians scored 3 converted tries late in the game, through Nicholls, Odell and Jenkins, but Derby scored a try of their own when Tom Morgan and Ben Marlow combined to put Tom Good in.

The final score of 45 – 15 was a little harsh on Derby, although there is no doubt that the better team won.

Derby travelled to Cromford Meadows looking for their first league win of the season. They made 5 changes to the starting line up in an attempt to freshen things up.

It must be a struggle to find a more picturesque setting for a game of rugby and on a beautiful sunny day, conditions were perfect.

Derby kicked off and Matlock immediately dropped the ball ! The resulting scrum was conclusively Matlock’s. An injury to Derby Hooker, Simon Long, restricted his performance, until he was replaced later in the game.

The remainder of the game saw 2 Matlock players sent to the sin bin and 2 further Matlock tries, giving Matlock a comfortable and deserved victory, by 30 – 3.

These are hard times indeed for Derby; Matlock’s 8th win in a row and possibly Derby’s poorest performance.

A lot of hard work is required if Derby are to improve, and improve they must otherwise a long, hard season of struggles lies ahead.

Dunstablians, relegated from Midland 1 last season are the next opponents, at Haslams next Saturday – the games do not get any easier !

Come on Derby !

Bright sunshine greeted the Vice Presidents, as they rose from their excellent luncheon and made their way pitch side.

Derby kicked off, against a strong looking Ampthill side, for the first league match of the season. It did not take Ampthill long to breach the Derby defence, with back row, Allen touching down after only 4 minutes. 13 minutes later he repeated the feat and with both conversions being added, Derby found themselves 14 – 0 down.

Ampthill really should have increased their lead, on the half hour, but the winger, having raced clear, dropped the ball in the act of scoring, without a Derby defender in sight!

Ampthill scored an excellent try in the closing moments, leaving the final score 29 – 10 in their favour.

Ampthill deserved to win, they have clearly recruited some useful players during the summer and it would be no surprise to see them do well.

Derby had some good spells and were very much in contention when only 7 points down with 14 minutes to go, but a lot of hard work is required to iron out some of the problems that Alan Dickens will have identified.

Matlock away next week and then Dunstablians at home are the next 2 games. Both will be very difficult to beat, but if Derby can build on the positives then they are in with a good chance !

Come on Derby !

The September monsoon saw the game rearranged from Haslams to Lichfield. On arrival, the Lichfield pitch looked in excellent condition – it is surprising that such a good set-up is operating at Midland 3 level !

Derby started brightly, but it was Lichfield who took the lead, after 4 minutes. A Derby pass was intercepted and the Lichfield player ran through, unopposed, to score under the posts. The conversion left Derby 7 adrift.

Derby gradually worked their way back into the game and scored after 15 minutes. Dave Fitchett and Elliot Spencer wrapped up the Lichfield player, stripped the ball and Elliot Spencer burst clear to score.

15 minutes later Louis Gandalfo broke through the Lichfield defence and was brought down just short. The ball was recycled and an inside pass from Michael Brookes found Elliot Spencer who touched down for his 41st try for Derby.

A Simon Rolfs penalty made the half time score 13 – 7 to Derby.

Derby started brightly in the second half, but were unable to turn their possession into points until the 63rd minute, when a good move allowed winger Tom Morgan to touch down in the corner.

Both teams used a number of replacements during the half and this made for a rather scrappy game, as well as the ball resembling a bar of soap!

The scoring was completed with 2 minutes remaining when Dave Fitchett picked up from a 5 metre scrum and forced his way over.

This was a pleasing win for Derby – obviously tougher tasks lie in wait, starting with the first league game of the season, at home to Ampthill next week.