Sat 17 Oct 2026
Derby 33 Sutton Coldfield 31
Sam Pittman, as captain, headed out a team minus two key players in Andy Tebbs and Jim Wigglesworth. Jeri Oldfield was surprisingly on the bench. Once again, a slow start by Derby saw them trailing by 21 points to 5. Against a good defensive side, this looked a game that could slip away from them. However, they showed great courage and determination to fight back and win. A very encouraging aspect was the way that Keifer Laxton’s breaks from No.8 were well supported at breakdowns and quick passing by scum-half, Tobin Bailey-Hill, kept the Derby Backs supplied with quick ball.
The visitors opted for a widely spaced set of backs forcing Derby to match them. This enabled their big centre and captain to direct play with more space to exploit with his probing runs.
After only three minutes, Sutton Coldfield took a scrum against the head and scrum half, Ben Mortimer, slipped over for a try. This was followed some minutes later with a try by centre, Archie Grimshaw. Both tries were converted to make things difficult for Derby. Adam Todd showed determination in responding with a try wide out in the right corner. The Sutton Coldfield assault continued and enabled left winger, Alex Woods, to touch down in the corner. Stand-off, Ben Morgan, did well to convert. Happily Derby began to look more organised and from a lineout won by Sam Pittman, the ball was passed to prop, Ryan Cokayne. He skipped past the first defender and sprinted round a second to score a try, converted by Lewis Hancock. Archie Murdoch was then injured and replaced by Danny Thompson. After a good passing move Sutton Coldfield’s, Luke Smith, accelerated over for a try converted by Morgan. The Derby forwards mounted pressure attacks but it was Ollie Horton who made a great break to score an important try just before the interval. Hancock added the extra points to make it Derby 19 Sutton Coldfield 21.
Though Derby looked like making a good restart, it was Sutton Coldfield’s fullback, Luke Smith, who finished off a long run and passing move to touch down for an unconverted try. The introduction of Jeri Oldfield at prop steadied the scrum. In loose play Derby’s young hooker, Lewis Wales, showed great courage and endeavour covering ground in defence and running very hard in attack. Ryan Cokayne got his second try converted by Hancock to level the scores. Some good running gave Tom Bigland a chance, which he took with great determination. With Hancock adding the extra points Derby had a nine points lead. A now confident Derby mounted great pressure on the Sutton Coldfield line but could not break a resolute defence. Some eight minutes into extra time, prop, Aidan Laynam, crossed from a lineout for an unconverted try. The final whistle quickly followed to give Derby another hard won victory.
It is at home again next week against Whitchurch, kick off at 3.0 p m. They will prove a much faster and harder side to deal with.
Do come and shout your support. See you there.
Gerry Sherry Tel 07731056927
