Sat 4 Nov 2023
Bridgnorth travelled to Derby with both clubs suffering flood damage to their first team pitches, Derby’s artificial grass pitch had again been ‘ruffled up’ by the power of the river Derwent in flood. Therefore, the game was relocated to Derby University’s artificial 3G pitch, however the travelling official party was well hosted at the Derby club house by Gerry, Martyn and Richard (President, Chairman and Matchday Secretary.)
The University ground was an impressive venue for the game (despite the lack of bar facilities) and the sports centre balcony provided an excellent viewpoint. Derby kicked the game off and Bridgnorth exited well - fullback Matt Needham providing the usual good clearance with his left boot. Derby then put good phases together before a dropped pass allowed the away side to hack through and Derby had to drop out from their own goal line. The away side returned the ball well and after winning the game’s first scrum, returning centre Will Bishop burst through to score the game’s opening try, converted by Needham.
Bridgnorth continued to press and good kicks by scrumhalf Gareth Bladen and fly half Elliot Murphy (with a 50:22 kick) kept the pressure on Derby in their own half. With number eight Connor Nicholls returning from injury and captain Jonah Boyce carrying well, the opening fifteen minutes had a promising look for the away side. The home side then got into the game with a well struck penalty after their first scrum as Bridgnorth started to grapple with the referee’s application of the laws.
An ordinary kick ahead by Bladen was ‘marked’ by Derby but with a good drive from the following lineout, Bridgnorth kicked a penalty for a seven-metre lineout. The customary good drive went through phases before Luis Evitt scored the game’s next try with another good quick pick and drive off the ruck to score, converted by Murphy.
The penalty count against the away side was mounting however as Bridgnorth were repeatedly called offside at the outside defensive line. Derby kicked for their own ten-metre lineout but good Bridgnorth ‘D’ kept them out. The away side then suffered the ignominy of losing a scrum ‘against the head’ and the home side continued to attack, after further penalties their number eight scored a converted try with the elusive running and stepping that he was to show throughout the game.
Bridgnorth responded well and an excellent jackal by Evitt gave Murphy the opportunity to extend the away side’s lead with a three-point penalty. The first half continued with good play from both sides interspersed with mistakes at the lineout, the away side scored next as Nicholls broke through and his pace took him over the line for the try, he had time to run nearer the posts to give Murphy the successful conversion.
The home side were not finished and they kept playing to the half-time whistle, they earned another penalty and their option of taking the three points on offer kept them in the game. The score at the break was 13-24.
The second half is best forgotten for Bridgnorth, they stuck to their task and carried the ball well. However, in playing most of their rugby in their own half, when they fell foul of the referee’s whistle (as they did on numerous occasions) Derby were able to capitalise. Derby kicked their next penalty for another three points after a high tackle by the away side. When Bridgnorth were able to apply some pressure, they had an attacking scrum in the opposition third, when they won another penalty, they opted to scrum again rather than taking the three points on offer and the chance was lost.
Bridgnorth’s afternoon then went from bad to worse as Evitt was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Derby fortunately missed the penalty attempt and the away side put some good possession together after the twenty-two-metre dropout, unfortunately when Bridgnorth earned their own penalty, the three-point attempt was missed. This miss was then compounded when the away side conceded again (this time for playing the scrumhalf) and the home side kicked another three points to make the score 19-24.
The end of the game had a feeling of inevitability to it as with the last play of the game the home side put some fine play together on the left wing and their prop charged over to score a try out wide which levelled the scores. Bridgnorth attempted to charge the kick down in the style of Cheslin Kolbe but the referee waved away their attempts, with the pressure reduced the Derby kicker struck a fine touchline conversion to win the game for the home side. The final whistle then blew with the score 26-24. Bridgnorth having to settle for the losing bonus point on the road again.
Bridgnorth will have to reflect on their management of the game and the referee after this game. From the vantage point of the balcony, it seemed in the second half that the ball needed to be kicked to the corners so that pressure could be applied to Derby in their third of the pitch, this, combined with taking three points when on offer and better discipline could have produced a different result.
Bridgnorth entertain local rivals Old Halesonians at the Edgar Davies Ground next week. The visitors have lost all their games so far on their return to level five but, to use a sporting cliché - ‘in local derbies the formbook goes out of the window.’
