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Ze German
'on the bench'
United Kingdom
323 Posts |
 Posted - 26 January 2006 : 14:11:56
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As ever there was a lot of pre-match tension for the 4ths, with the usual questions being asked regarding player numbers. This week out of a possible 28 players from the Friday night, 22 turned up ready to play. Another 2 also arrived with kit in hand, but they decided to give it a miss –thanks to Nathan and Scott for dropping out! (1st – and hopefully last time you’ll read that in a match report from me!)
It was lucky that 6 did drop out, as it seems Melbourne may be taking coming 2nd to Ranby Prison in the Pennant a little too seriously! Not realising that rugby is supposed to be played for fun at our level; they declared we were only allowed 5 subs, with only 3 allowed to come on the pitch. This presented The Brrraaaiin with a previously unheard of problem – too many players, and an opposition unwilling to allow unlimited subs. Not being able to come up with a solution, as his laptop was at home, 7 subs got ready to play, but only 4 made it onto the pitch (Even this was frowned upon – but if they really want we can concede the fixture and they can lose their bonus point!). Massive apologies for this to Ruben, Jesus and Mick Thompson – you are on for at least a half next week, I think the university understand the concept of “fun” rugby! Welshy, if you read this, there is a pint in for you!
Anyway, enough whinging – on with the rugby!
The match began with a minute’s silence, in memory of Malcolm Sinclair, who unfortunately passed away the previous Monday.
Derby started poorly, not seeming to get into the game at all for long periods of the 1st half. When we did get into the opposition half we did at times look threatening, but missing key big hitters, such as Nathan, JB and Sheriff seemed to have a detrimental effect on the forward’s performance. I am not really sure of the sequence of 1st half events but I do remember 2 tries disallowed for Derby – one for “Truck and Trailer” and one for a forward pass. Anyway, Melbourne opened the scoring, with poor defence allowing them to spread the ball wide, resulting in a one –on-one in the corner, at which it would have been nice to see a tackle attempted. Anyway, they scored and converted.
They then scored again, using the ball effectively down the line for the winger to score in the corner, missing the conversion.
Derby finally began to wake up at this point, ending the half with a penalty from Dancing Dave. The score 12-3 to Melbourne.
Half time brought about the “illegal” changes, with Colin on at hooker for Rich Patilla, the Brrraaaaiiin making his comeback after time away from the game in a Nepalese retreat, on for Grizzly, Scott on for Alec Jardine (who’s thumb hurt and who then tried to get a game for the Dev’s – methinks time to bring back the d1ck of the day dress!), and Neil on for Rob Paylor.
Derby began the 2nd half brightly, and controlled forward play allowed Dancing Dave to skip past the entire Melbourne back line to score under the posts, with the nudge from Lee Bradshaw.
Unfortunately a mix up from the kick off allowed the Melbourne hooker to score straight back with a converted try, leaving the score 19-10, and Derby with plenty to do. I think the next try was to Derby (but I may be wrong). With Derby exerting considerable deep in the Melbourne 22, the ball was passed to their fly half who messed around with it for so long that Crippsy (big strong man that he is) had time to run up and grab the ball of him and put in down for the score, with another 2 points to Bradshaw.
19-17 to Melbourne
Unfortunately Melbourne then scored again in the corner giving them a 7 point lead with 15 minutes to go. The most controversial moment of the match then followed, and I am still unsure who was right. Titch charged down a clearing kick from near (or it could have been behind) the Melbourne try line. Scott had been chasing through and was in front of Titch, he caught the ball and put it down. Hopefully someone will be able to clarify if this was a try or not, but either was, it wasn’t given. After lots more pressure from Derby, the Melbourne defence held strong and the final whistle went.
The Brraaaaiinn has returned to his Nepalese retreat as he appears to bring the team bad luck, managing better from afar. This week his cousin Crazy Brraaaaiin is taking his place on the bench, so let’s hope we return to winning ways!
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Edited by - Ze German on 26 January 2006 14:13:00 |
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Melbourne
