League - 21st October 06
Memorial Ground, Nottingham
North Derbyshire RFC 5 v 78 Mellish RFC

Mellish Line up: Fretwell, Scott, Harris, Mason (c), Greathead, Boulter, Williams, Lewis, Cocking, McConnell, Wheldon, Myers, Walden, Goodspeed, Revill, Butcher, Bray, Bunton
Tries: Wheldon (3), Harris, Boulter, Williams, Lewis, Cocking, McConnell, Myers, Walden,
Conversions: Mason (9)
Pens:


Mellish were going into the game in boyant mood after 2 good wins in their previous 2 league outings. Once again the side was at full strength with the exception of the injured Paul Linney. North Derbyshire started strongly taking Mellish by surprise and scored an early try after a miscommunication at the base of scrum. From this point onwards Mellish took control and dominated the rest of the game.

At the first opportunity for points skipper Mason opted for a kick at goal, it didn't quite have the legs & hit the upright but due to an excellent follow-up Kris Walden got the first try. Next followed the best piece of interlinking play & support running Mellish have seen all season, it ended in a try under the posts for Matt Williams. Similar play followed & led to the 3 rd & 4 th tries for Ryan Lewis & Jonny Cocking. Other tries followed in the 1 st half for James Wheldon, Sam Harris who drove over from 1 metre out (nearly the full length of the pitch in Sam's eyes!!!!).

To end the half Matt Williams charged a kick down in his own 22 & sprinted the length of the pitch only to be caught 5 metres out by an excellent tackle from the North Derbyshire big winner which was really a Hobbit!!!


North Derbyshire started the 2 nd half strongly & shocked Mellish into stepping up a gear. Some determined tackling by North Derbyshire stopped the tries for the next 15 mins. It took some excellent play by the backs, well marshalled by Sean McConnell for James Wheldon's 2 nd try of the afternoon. Good passages of play continued and led to Daz ‘Youth' Boulter scoring. From the resulting kick-off to the backs Aaron Myers ran up the touchline to score.

Sean McConnell scored his try by running a move that involved a triple dummy scissors. The next try was penalty try due to James Wheldon being fouled. The final score was scored through James Wheldon for his hat-trick score, Dave Mason made a run only to be tackled & superbly passed out of the tackle for James to score. Twelve tries were scored altogether with Mason kicking 9 conversions for a 78 – 5 final scoreline.

Praise must be given to North Derbyshire who remained committed throughout the game & proved worthy opponets despite the scoreline. Standout players for Mellish were Sean McConnell who was superb at standoff once again, Kris Walden with his pace & vision, Matt, Daz ‘Youth' & Ryan had good all round games at back-row but the stand out performer was James Wheldon with his hat-trick of tries.


Mellish Man of the Match: James Wheldon
       
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