Paviors RFC

Sunday saw us up at the Stump for the last of our group games in this year’s NLD Cup.

Having won all our games thus far we were already assured of a place in the Semi-finals but our opponents today - Derby - needed a result against us to get through themselves. So they were always going to bring their A game.

Sure enough the Derby boys all looked like they were sons of butchers or had spent too long stood in grow bags 

So, in the watery sunlight and the even more watery pitch, we went through our warm up. I detected a nervous but confident edge among the boys and a more nervous energy from Corey, who had taken time away from selling the Big Issue, to join us.

Dan delivered a rousing pre match ‘charge naked at Jerry’ speech, and I don’t know about the lads, but it made me well up.

After a respectful minute’s silence for Robbo, Derby got the game underway.

We tried to move the ball wide but were a bit sluggish and eventually Derby went on an attack of their own. Contrary to how we thought they would play they entered into the spirit and started throwing the pill around. This stressed our defence but this is one area of great improvement for us and we soon weathered the storm, unscathed.

Midway through the half we broke the deadlock when Sehas went over after collecting the ball from a ruck following a line break by Noah. Oliver added the two points, for 7-0 and despite a couple of other opportunities we should have taken, that remained the score at half time.

The second half continued in much the same vein. Derby trying to overpower us but not really getting far, failing to break our defiance and us trying to move the ball, either through the hand or boot to attack space.

Eventually, our adventurism paid off when Noah managed to find a gap and go over to score near the posts, with Oliver again adding the extras: 14-0.

We could breathe a little easier now and despite Derby chucking, not just the kitchen sink but the brick outhouse at us as well, we stood firm to close out the game.

This was a very mature performance in many ways, against a large and motivated Derby side. Congratulations must be given to the Derby boys who never lacked application and heart and the game as a whole was played in the right spirit.

One thing of note is our boys need to work on their hygiene, as to see them in shirt and tie after the game, having not showered, is not a look we’re going to see on the catwalks of Milan any time soon.

Finally, huge thank you to the parents and supporters of the boys, great support as usual to watch an outstanding performance to finish top of the pool. Onwards to the semi-final for the mighty Pavs U14s!

Elicia  Hodgson