Mannerians second XV..15Dronfield second XV........5

(at Chesterfield RFC)

THIS was the third meeting between these two sides this season and Dronfield had saved their best performance until the last. They paid Bakewell the compliment of fielding a strengthened side for this opening game of the Derbyshire Finals Day, and the result was the most closely contested of them all.

With the early morning dew burnt off by the sun, Dronfield kicked off in perfect conditions for open rugby, and the Mannerians tried to oblige.

Most of the first half was played in Dronfield territory, with Bakewell probing the Dronfield defence at every point.

Mobile flankers Chris Froggatt and Ben Hopkinson were always looking for space to run into, and Bakewell were on the front foot.

Eventually they won a penalty and veteran Graham Bradford somehow managed to squeeze the ball through the posts. Sometimes you have to work hard at your game, and it was to be one of those days for Bradford, as he later scuffed another kickable penalty along the turf.

Dronfield looked up to withstanding anything Bakewell could throw at them, and closed down the midfield efficiently. Mannerians left wing Dave Frost came within inches of a touch down and excellent driving support work by the pack was twice repulsed by Dronfield, who repeatedly cleared their line with siege gun touch kicking.

Bakewell had to work hard at most of their game, but their lineout worked like a well oiled machine, with Michael Clegg imperious, and Jim O’Neil providing superb backup.

Rob Middlemiss’ service at scrum half was giving Bradford plenty of space to run on to, and Simon Watt tested Dronfield up the right flank, only to be forced out short of the line.

With a meagre three points on the board at the break, Bakewell were right to be concerned.

Immediately after the restart their spirits soared as a fluid back move saw Frost cross in the corner, but the linesman brought them back for a forward pass.

Bakewell’s pack had been fully occupied in containing Dronfield, but now produced a telling play, taking the ball against the head at a scrum 22 metres out. The ball was shipped to Jake Ward, who side stepped his way to within two metres for Hopkinson to crash over under the posts. Bradford converted.

Dronfield now raised their game, and began to play with more self belief.

A period of constant pick and drive and recycle saw them cross for an unconverted try, and brought them to within five points.

But Mannerians captain and man-of-the-match Paul Webster would not be denied, driving back relentlessly into Dronfield territory. Hooker O’Neil, having secured the strike against the head that produced the first try, now took a lovely catch at the lineout.

Ward received the ball in midfield, and proceeded to outpace a tiring Dronfield defence to score in the corner, with 15 minutes remaining.