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Photos: Tom Wooldridge
Derwent’s progression to the College Rugby Final was rarely in doubt as they inflicted a heavy defeat on an off-colour Halifax.
Five tries through the Derwent backs, as well as three shared between back row forwards Alex Cochrane Dyet and Tolga Necar sent opponents Alcuin a resounding message before next week’s final.
Despite the score-line, Halifax started much the stronger. James McNeill sending his kick deep into the Blue half, had early opportunities to break the Derwent line.
However any inroads into the Derwent defence were hard to come by as centre Dom Munns who would later go off for mild concussion, quashed any attack that dared to develop.
The Blues, supported today by a mascot duck, soon found their way into the Halifax half. However they could not capitalise on any of their early territory.
After twenty minutes Derwent made the break through, simple draw and passing allowed Jamie Criswell to run in and score, Oliver Wessely added the extras from out on the left side of the pitch.
Halifax were unable to get a grip on the game, while Derwent were spreading the ball wide from each play.
Flanker Alex Cochrane Dyet added the second backing himself from three metres out to score his first of the afternoon. Wessely knocked over his second to push the score out to 14-0.
The fast-paced encounter was leaving either side no real chance to settle. With Derwent winning a penalty just in front of the posts, scrum-half Henry Guest sensibly opted for the points which his fly-half Wessely duly slotted.
With little remaining of the first half, Ed Kemp, a catalyst in the back line, went on a surging run from Andy Cox’s box kick, Kemps short pass found captain Necar who took a diagonal route to the try line.
The conversion was missed, but Derwent had accumulated a 22-point lead with the advantage of the wind to play with in the second half.
Straight from the start, a territorial kick from Halifax Flanker Jack Stanley put his side immediately on the front foot.
Halifax were looking to get back into the game, Santiago Parilli and Nick Wright both showing good strength from the line-out.
However, Halifax were unable to cope with the Derwent free-flowing style, as the ball switched play and got moved through the hands of the Blue team.
The nail in coffin came in the form of the enigmatic Cochrane-Dyet. Richard Whittaker on at centre, made a good break only to brilliantly offload to the Sherborne-born rugby player who grabbed his second.
Derwent backs put an emphatic display into points with four further tries in the second half.
Criswell made use of the over-lap to grab his seventh of the season. Before Charlie Clark losing a boot in a tackle sprinted through to grab himself a try in the corner also.
Full back Kemp added the finishing touches to a rehearsed move sliding in under the sticks. But Phil Hammick got his sides final points as he touched down after what was becoming now some textbook passing rugby.
Halifax, who are usually a strong outfit in the Ten’s Tournament, must now pick themselves up for the One Day Spectacle.
While holders of the competition Derwent, will now go into tens with the favourite tag on their shoulders for what will be the first time in recent years.