Derwent college rugby were humbled by a mixed University team (comprised of both 2nd and 3rd team players) on Wednesday, the score-line ultimately amounting to a lowly 11-5. University ended Derwent’s lengthy unbeaten record, which stretched back over two years to the 2010-11 college rugby season.
Neither team appeared exceptionally ‘well-oiled’ as the game commenced; the recent wintry tundra proving to be an obstacle to both of the teams’ training and match fixtures in the past two months. Gameplay was slow for the most part, and was by no means lacking in slip-ups and sloppiness from either side.
Ed Harris, the Uni 10, kicked off. A mere few moments into the game and the University side were clinical to capitalise on Derwent’s untidy ruck-play, the aforesaid Harris scoring a penalty just inside the Derwent 22. 3-0 to Uni.
Derwent were quick to respond, with some smart interplay between backs Phil Hammick and Alex Cochrane-Dyet, pressuring the university side in their own 22. The University stood their ground, however, and managed to eventually steal the ball on their 5, where a Derwent try had seconds before appeared imminent; forward debutant Nick Wright almost touching down for his first try for the college side.
A couple of scrappy line-outs and sluggish rucks later, University had again pushed Derwent back to their own 22; stagnant play in these early phases, however, meant neither team could convert their efforts. Uni relinquished the ball to Derwent on a fair few occasions during their attack, frustration following their litany of errors.
Derwent also struggled to retain the ball, surrendering possession on a multitude of occasions. Even so, they remained resilient and the Uni side were yet unable to penetrate Derwent’s dogged defence.
Derwent continued in their desperate attempts to defend their try-line, with 10 Hammick having to execute some kicks into touch, in order to alleviate the Uni surge.
Uni’s tenacity ultimately paid off, when back Hugo Barennes received an offload after some fluid backline passing. He touched down to make it 8-0; Harris missing the corner conversion, but made up for it after scoring another penalty on Derwent’s 22. 11-0 going into half time.
Second-half, Uni captain and number-8 Chris Pollard made a powerful run after kick off; Derwent forwards Chris Judge and Dan Perry resilient in defence, eager to galvanise their college side and inspire a comeback. Brayden Ridgeway also put in a big hit near the Derwent 5 to preclude Uni from crossing the line for a second try.
Aside from the intermittent attack from either side, there was little momentum during the match; the damp conditions and the team rustiness attributing lethargy to a game that may have otherwise been fast-paced. Ed Kemp managed to score a consolation try for Derwent in the latter stages of the encounter, an almost flawless combination attack from the Derwent forwards and backs to finally cross the Uni’s try-line.
The game ended 11-5, and in spite of the wet and inhospitable playing conditions, both teams felt this was a good opportunity to ease back into the routine of playing matches. Remarkably, there was no hostility between the two playing sides, and both teams respectively won and lost graciously, in what is ordinarily a bitter affair.
University captain, Chris Pollard, commented that it was a ‘promising start after a long break.’ College skipper, Chris Judge, also remarked it had been a ‘tough and physical game. We had no training and we were duly punished, but this is a good way of getting back into the swing of things.’