Ashbourne face big battle to stay up
ASHBOURNE face a big battle in the second half of the season if they are to avoid their first relegation from Midlands Two East (North).
They went into the winter break second from bottom in the table having won only one match – and that against Coalville, who are bottom on points difference, also with only one win.
Ashbourne were promoted to the division in 2010-11, having come up from Division Fourh East (North) a couple of seasons before that and despite the occasional scare, have not looked this close to losing their place in the division since.
It is, as team manager Martin Farr often says, a transitional season for the club.
After a season wiped out by the pandemic, players have returned to the club in good numbers generally, with the junior ranks especially strong, but they are missing some senior players on a regular basis for the first team.
The team has therefore featured a string of highly promising teenagers who are starting to show signs of finding their feet – but have yet to get the results to prove it.
The season began with two close home defeats, to Southwell, by 24-18, and Ashby 22-12, both games which might have gone either way.
And things looked up next, with a 20-12 win away to Coalville, who have usually been strong at this level.
Next was another narrow home loss, 32-24 to Ilkeston, before a 31-10 defeat away to Lincoln.
Long Eaton, top of the table and now with nine wins from 10, brushed Ashbourne aside 45-14 before Loughborough, targeted as a possible win, beat them 28-17.
Next came the embarrassment of a 53-0 drubbing away to Matlock.
But there was some hope in a 38-12 defeat last time out against a strong Melbourne side in which Ashbourne’s youngsters effectively drew the second half of the game.
They are going to need a lot more of that spirit in the second half of the campaign, which starts again on Saturday, January 8, away to Ashby.