Bonus points, at least, are wanted on Sheffield trip
DERBY would love a repeat of their last trip to Sheffield.
That was in the 2016-17 season, when Derby won 18-12 away to a Sheffield team which was eventually promoted.
The South Yorkshire club is back in the Midlands Premier and at home to Derby tomorrow and they will definitely be wary of their visitors, having lost 38-12 at Haslams Lane in September.
But Sheffield are still 16 points better off than Derby in the table, who are too close to the bottom three for comfort after losing at home to leaders Scunthorpe last Saturday.
They did not manage to claim either a losing or try bonus point in that defeat and Derby’s director of rugby Roxy Fearon says that is something which has to change in the games ahead.
“Burton were beaten by Sheffield last weekend but still took two bonus points from the defeat and that’s the least that we have got to do if we are to climb the table,” said Fearon.
“But there’s no reason why we can’t win there. We can’t really afford to come away with nothing.
“For once, there are minimal changes to the squad. Callum Slater is unavailable and so Luke Frixou will take his place on the wing but that’s the only change to the starting line-up.
“The group deserved another chance after their performance against the leaders last Saturday.
“The last time we played away at Sheffield we won a couple of years ago and this time we are going there with more experience and we are a better team, so we have a great chance.”
MIDLANDS PREMIER Sheffield v Derby Bournville v Burton
MIDLANDS TWO EAST (NORTH) Dronfield v Ashbourne Ilkeston v Newark Lincoln v Melbourne Long Eaton v Matlock MIDLANDS THREE EAST (NORTH) Belper v Ashfield Mansfield v Rolls-Royce