Under 15's v Derby - Sun 25th Sept 2011

Derby RFC Under 15’s 12 Kesteven RFC Under 15’s 13


Kesteven travelled to Derby expecting a tough match. Theses two sides are far and away the best two sides at their age group within the Notts, Lincs and Derbys area and last met in the semi-final of the NLD Cup at the end of last season. That match finished 10-10 with Derby progressing to the final on the toss of a coin which they subsequently won beating Nottingham 29-19... So K’s felt that they had something to prove knowing that they had had the best of the semi-final.

As expected the early exchanges were physical as the K’s pack attempted to dominate the Derby pack and to negate the impact of the Derby backline. Both sides had territory and possession with K’s just edging things. Unfortunately K’s were reduced to 14 players as a result of a yellow card midway through the half and Derby were able to take advantage of their superior numbers by working an overlap to score in the corner. The try went unconverted. K’s launched a spirited fight back as their forward domination began to tell. Following several quick rucks that sucked the Derby defence in they created their own overlap to allow outside centre Jordan Addlesee to score in the corner. Phil Fletcher’s conversion from wide out just fell agonising a few feet short.

The half-time score was 5-5.

Within a few minutes of the restart Derby went ahead again following a misplaced Kesteven pass which allowed Derby to score under the posts. The try was converted and Derby now lead 12-5. The remainder of the second half was largely spent in the Derby half as the K’s pack tried to batter their way to the line. But to their credit the Derby defence held out for over twenty minutes of concerted pressure managing to hold the ball up over the line on several occasions and surviving the ensuing five metre scrums. Finally the pressure told and K’s were again able to suck sufficient Derby defenders into the middle of the pack to create an overlap to allow Jordan Addlesee to go over in the corner for his second try. Matt Grinney took the conversion from wide out on the right virtually on the touchline and his tremendous kick just failed smacking into the post and falling to safety. Derby still lead by two points and K’s were running out of time. But their was still time for one last big effort from the K’s pack and they drove deep into the Derby half. With two minutes left they were awarded a scrum just outside the Derby 22. Coach Richard Bloodworth called for a drop goal. The pack won quick ball and scrum half Ben Addlesee got a quick accurate pass back to fly-half Phil Fletcher standing deep and from thirty-five yards out he landed a superb drop-goal in true Jonny Wilkinson style with the ball hanging tantalisingly in mid air before dropping over the posts. K’s led by one point with a minute on the clock. There was time for one further piece of drama. From the kick-off Derby succeeded in winning possession of the ball and following a Kesteven infringement at a ruck were awarded a penalty twenty five yards out. As expected they elected to go for the posts knowing that a successful kick would win the match for them. The K’s players lined up under the posts and waited. The kick faded slightly to the right and missed the posts. There was just time for the resulting 22 dropout. Derby won possession and drove back at K’s but knocked out. K’s won the resulting scrum which was the last play of the match and scrum half Addlesee hoofed the ball into touch. The referee blew up for time and K’s were able to celebrate a hard fought win against a very good Derby side. I doubt that either side will have a much tougher match this season.

Quote of the day from hooker Sammy Danford as he picked himself up from the bottom of a collapsed maul, “I think I’ve broken my face”. To which elder brother Jack watching from the touchline five metres away replied “Welcome to the world of hooking Sam”.

The K’s squad was: Taggart, Aspinall, J.Addlesee, Bosworth, Cartwright, Fletcher, B.Addlesee (Tank), Allen, Danford, Cole (capt), Pirie, Sharp, Pepper, Ryder, Bloodworth. Replacements – Peters, Clark, Adams, Grinney.

Coaches – Bloodworth, Grinney, Morgan, Ryder, Whittington.