Derby aiming to light up Haslams against Dronfield
IT’S time for “Friday Night Lights” tonight as as Derby take on Dronfield at Haslams Lane (7.45pm).
The Midlands One East clash is Derby’s first home game of the season to be played under floodlights, continuing an initiative the club started before the pandemic.
Before kick-off, a Mixed Ability XV will take on Notts Casuals as part of the build-up before the 1st XV take to the field aiming to wipe out the memory of last Saturday’s home defeat by West Bridgford.
“It’s a different atmosphere playing under floodlights,” said Derby head coach Mark Bradley.
“It’s a good experience for the players and when we have done it in the past the players have enjoyed playing on the Friday nights.
“It’s also good in that it gives players the Saturday off, it frees them then, too.
“In terms of location, Dronfield are one of the closest teams to us in this division so they will be coming over with good support as well, hopefully.
“And then on the night, we will have to be on our game. We have got to reproduce some of the performances in recent weeks and this time turn those pressure moments into points for us. Execute in those moments to get the win.”
Fourth-placed Dronfield are two rungs above Derby in the table, with three points more.
Josh Tizard returns to the backs after missing the defeat by West Bridgford, while Judah Simpson could be back on the wing. Derby will also be boosted in the front row with Ashley Campbell and Jack Waggott available again.
“Josh is back and Ashley should be available again, his neck is still a bit sore but he should be on the bench,” Bradley added.
“Jack Waggott is back, too, which should help us in the scrummage.
“It’s looking more positive on the injury front, although Jake Roome got injured against West Bridgford and is probably going to be out for two or three weeks with a knee problem.
“So in some cases we seem to get one person back and then lose another one.
“But Josh Bingham (fly-half) and
Andy Brown (full-back) are obviously back in the fold now after coming back from injury, so that has strengthened us.
“They are playing again, so that’s a bonus for us.
“After not playing for so long due to the pandemic, players are starting to get that body hardness which means they can deal with any knocks in a game.
“At the start of the season, I think most clubs struggled because players were getting little niggles that kept them out. Now players are recovering quicker and, hopefully, we will get less injuries as the season goes on.
“As players comes back it doesn’t just help the first team, it helps the second team as well because we are not having to take people from them.”