Strength in depth on show for Derby in first home win
DERBY 55 LUTTERWORTH 19
DERBY climbed up to fourth in Midlands One East after celebrating their first home win of the campaign, beating Lutterworth 55-19.
The game was originally scheduled for October 30 but postponed after Lutterworth reported a positive Covid-19 test and the RFU insisted it was rearranged for Saturday, a blank weekend in the league programme, even though both sides were understrength.
But debutants shone for Derby as they won a free-flowing game to make it three victories on the trot.
“The RFU said the game had to go ahead even though both sides had players unavailable,” said Derby head coach Mark Bradley.
“Some lads had also gone to Twickenham (for England’s international against Australia) because they originally thought it was a free weekend. There was no leeway from the RFU in terms of playing, they can fine clubs and dock points, so the game had to go ahead.
“But we got a couple of new players in and, at the end of the day, had a good result.
“Declan McManus (back row) stepped up from the second team, where he has been playing well and he deserved a crack at it.
“He played very well, which shows we have strength in depth in the twos and it’s good that these players are coming through.
“Dave Cowell (centre) is another who has come through from the seconds and made his debut, while Alex Kalyta-Jubb (prop) has been playing mainly for the thirds, so for him to step up, too, and perform very well is a massive credit to him.
“Louis McGuickian (centre) and Henry Maitland-Davies (scrumhalf) both joined us last Thursday for their first training session, then played on Saturday and did very well, so that was very pleasing.”
Cowell burst through for Derby’s first try, showing great acceleration to score under the posts, which increased the home side’s early lead after Lewis Hancock had opened the scoring with a penalty.
Hancock converted Cowell’s try for a 10-0 lead before Will Town squeezed over in the corner to make it 15-0. The extras were missed.
Lutterworth retaliated with two converted tries before McGuickian took a pass under pressure and forced his way 35 metres upfield, setting up Cowell to score his second try. Hancock converted and Derby held an eight-point lead at half-time.
Early in the second half, Maitland-Davies took a tap and go penalty to set up a try for Sam Tebbs.
Town then scored his second try, converted by Hancock, before Lutterworth touched down in the corner.
Derby skipper Andy Brown went over for the next converted try, then Town completed his hat-trick after intercepting a pass before Maitland-Davies touched down in the closing stages, Hancock adding his sixth conversion to complete the scoring.
“We will have a bit of a selection headache for the next game now but that’s good to have,” added Bradley.
“We are getting stronger and stronger each week.
“At the start of the season we were struggling to get one team out but it just shows now that players are coming back and we have strength in depth.
“It’s an exciting league, there are five or six teams close together near the top and if the leaders Bedford Athletic lose a game then they are pulled back into it.
“We are up to fourth and have a game in hand on the top two as well.”