A huge Derby squad arrived early to set up camp on the Cherry Orchard albeit very wet and slightly cold. Some of the Derby squad were big lads, it was deemed two age groups were warming up... the black and yellow strip looked menacing as they buzzed around the field but there was only one team with what could’ve turned out to be a large sting!

1st half
Burton kicked off not maintaining shape but managed to move the ball well into Derby’s half with sharp close passing. Burton’s first try was delivered by Jack Johnson’s thunderous rampage though Derby’s 8 man pack. This was one of the best try’s I’ve seen this season well done Jack. Harry Roden converted. Burton 7 Derby 0. Derby re-grouped and kicked off only to lose possession to Burton forwards from a rough maul. Jake O’Toole’s pass to Millar Pride enabled Millar to place the ball for a second converted try, Burton 14 Derby 0. Burton were on a roll... play continues to move forward and over the Derby try line but was held up, scrum 5, Burton Ball. The ball was quickly out to Zak Fellows who raced over the line to place Burtons third try completed by an accurate conversion. Burton 21 Derby 0. Burtons attacking line and well rehearsed set pieces exploited every gap and opportunity. Jak Mumford covered vast amounts of space in Derby’s half. Another two rucks and a fast pass put Liam O’Toole in a scoring position, over the try line, ball down for Burtons fourth try. Super play from Liam who’s try was converted by Harry Roden. Burton 28 Derby 0. Little did we know that Liam hadn’t yet finished, he was to go on and score Burton’s fifth try from a tough maul, he broke loose and dived over the line, toptastic! His try again converted Harry Roden, changing the score to Burton 35 Derby 0. Burton were comfortably in the lead so took the opportunity to put into place ‘rolling subs’ giving all players reasonable game time and keeping them warm given the cold, wet weather. Tom Rutherford recently joined the squad and took to the field for his debut game just moments before the Ref blew for half time. Burton 35 Derby 0.

2nd Half
Derby run out having made their own changes fresher, bigger players kick off straight into the grasp of Millar Pride who raced forward passing to Tyler Smith. Again, well rehearsed set pieces allowed the ball to move to Zak Fellows but within a meter the ball is dropped and possession lost. But Zak was not to be denied. Burton made more substitutions and play continued in Derby’s half and from a scrum a fast pass out to Zak Fellows saw him shoot past several players to score Burton’s sixth try. This together with the successful conversion took the score to Burton 42 Derby 0. Burton began to let a little complacency creep in and produced sloppy passing which allowed a fruitful attack from Derby and the reward of a try and conversion. Burton 42 Derby 7. The Burton reply was Jak Mumford’s solo run from the half way line to all but a couple of meters from a try line, an incredible run, well done Jak. Derby restart the game and gain possession. They are ambitious with their passing making it difficult for the Burton forwards who struggle to slow Derby until Jack Johnson determinedly ripped the ball from the Derby Forwards. But Derby were having none of it, Burton lost the ball and found themselves deep into their own half with Derby rapidly advancing. Millar Pride gathered the ball and kicked back up field. Derby keep a firm grip of the ball and start to pass it along their line only for a focussed George Else to intercept and race over their try line for his first and Burton’s seventh try of the game which was followed by another successful conversion taking the score to Burton 49 Derby 7. Derby kick off once more and the ball is successfully gathered by Burton. Possession is getting more and more difficult for the visitors as Burton get into shape and move the ball along their line into Derby’s half with fast accurate passing, until it reaches Jake O’Toole who, not to be out done by his brother Liam, places the last try for Burton and the last try of the game, which was again successfully converted by Harry Roden. Final score Burton 56 Derby 7

Burton scored 8 try’s today and every one converted by “Mr Cool” Harry Roden. An excellent performance in itself, but this can be remembered as an epic game because it produced great individual performers and a great team result. Well done.

Special mention to the entire Derby Squad who, despite the score and the weather, kept on playing with their heads held high until the final whistle.

By Tim Johnson.