TAMWORTH RFC VETS 38 DERBY 19

TAMWORTH came out on against a well-drilled Derby side.

Tamworth won the coin toss and elected to kick off, but Derby showed why they have such a big reputation by grabbing a converted try with two minutes on the clock.

Shaken into life, the Wigginton Park defended the second kick off better and, after turning over another dangerous Derby attack, they forged a searing breakout of their own with Mark Render the instigator.

This allowed Tamworth a period of good possession and territory, and textbook handling from Andy Jones and Render in midfield set Paul Arnold away.

He drew in the Derby cover, giving Scott Spencer room to round the last man and grab Tamworth's opening score, converted by Render.

Tamworth added to that score when Arnold and Spencer combined on the wing to send Stuart Burrows barrelling through on a straight line, carving open the defence, before finding Graham Hakes with a short off-load out of contact and he strode away for try number two, converted by Render.

The home side's pack were now starting to dominate and Matt Bond's bustling run, supported by Jez Sandhu, opened Derby up again.

Skipper Paul Willars found Hakes ten metres out and he sent Burrows over the line but the try was disallowed for a forward pass.

Tamworth were soon further ahead. Sandhu, Colin Nolan and Burrows applied the pressure at the scrum, forcing Derby to concede possession at the base, where Robbie Smith accepted scored a poacher's effort. Render converted.

Tamworth were now in their stride, and fly half Andy Smith was orchestrating the play, manoeuvring the side around the park, pinning Derby inside their own half.

After great scavenging from Rich Spencer had turned over Derby ball, Andy Goodeve and Sandhu sniped round the fringes to set up a great attacking position.

Robbie Smith was quick to spot and then exploit the disorganised defence, finding Burrows on the short blind side, who attracted two defenders before slipping a sublime off-load for Willars to score for a 28-7 half time lead.

The visitors started the second half well with a second converted try but, refocused, Tamworth hit back.

Another mazy Bond break put Tamworth on the front foot, Sandhu, Hakes and Goodeve maintained the momentum, and Robbie Smith plunged over from five metres for his 12th try of the season.

As the home side made changes, there was a period of readjustment, and tenacious Derby scored an unconverted try.

Not to be outdone, Tamworth had the final say when after forcing a knock on they were awarded a scrum 25 metres out.

Tamworth's scrum had been solid all day, gaining the ascendancy as the game progressed, and once more the front five delivered, providing Bond with crisp front foot ball at number eight, and he accelerated away to score.

Render's conversion made it 38-19 at full time.

Arnold was named star man for being solid and organised in defence and intelligent going forward.