Bonus, at least, for Derby but Sheffield have edge
LATE POINTS FOR VISITORS IN A DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE
DERBY had to be content with a losing bonus point in a defensive battle against Sheffield in the Midlands Premier.
George Castledine kicked a late penalty for the visitors to make sure they didn’t head home emptyhanded but defeat leaves them only one point above the relegation zone.
Bournville occupy the third and final relegation spot and are only one point behind Derby, who they visit on Saturday.
“It was just a consolation score at the end for the bonus point,” said Roxy Fearon, Derby’s director of rugby.
“We have to start taking something from the next 10 games and we need to win a game soon. We are letting opportunities slip away which is hard to take.
“We need a win, though, and we have a big game coming up against Bournville at home on Saturday.”
The only try in Saturday’s game was scored after two minutes, the conversion giving Sheffield a 7-0 lead.
After that, it was a war of attrition, with a strong cross-wind making play difficult.
The closest Derby went to scoring in the first half was with a long-range penalty attempt by Castledine, which fell just short.
A scuffle broke out five minutes into the second half which resulted in Derby’s Dan Hyams and an opponent being sent to the sin bin.
And two minutes later, Sheffield kicked a penalty to extend their lead to 10 points.
The half was a repeat of the first, with excellent defence from both sides stifling attacks.
Derby looked to have suffered a severe setback when Castledine received a yellow card but the visitors kept the home team at bay.
And, with the match entering added time, Derby produced their most sustained attack of the match.
Time and again they drove towards the Sheffield line but when they finally got the ball over it was adjudged to be held up.
Sheffield had two players sent to the sin bin during this spell of pres-
sure before Derby were awarded a late penalty, which Castledine kicked for the losing bonus point.
“It was a difficult day in the office for both teams,” Fearon added. “There were some interpretation issues with the referee at the breakdown which were a problem for both teams.
“If you don’t get clear guidance from the referee about the breakdown then you are going to have some issues and the game became a bit messy.
“Sheffield scored a perfectly good try in the first two minutes and that proved to be enough.
“For the rest of the game we were very much in it but couldn’t make it count.
“They got their noses in front and that was that.
“We had a couple more players sin-binned but those yellows were debatable too. In rugby you have to accept it and get on with it.
“When you are scrapping down at the bottom, though, you are looking for bits of good fortune to go your way, to get the breaks.”