Match report Hope Valley Hawks.

Derby City rugby league completed their league fixtures with a home game played at one of their satellite grounds Ilkeston rugby club. The previous match away at Hope Valley Hawks had been a high scoring performance for both teams and Hope were the only team in the way off stopping Derby City completing their first Open Age league season in six years unbeaten.
The away team were the first out of the blocks and immediately advanced up the pitch and from the resulting kick from the end of their set a deft kick went unnoticed and the winger ghosted in to score a converted try. Derby knocked on close to the Hope 20 metre line and from this next set with the assistance of a penalty the away team made immense movement up the pitch. Again a mistake allowed the Hawks to score an un-converted try in the corner. Derby's backs were up against the wall and they needed to dig deep before the game ran away. Derby City 0 Hope Valley Hawks 10.
Derby started to use the width more which saw Jon Cartlidge pushing the ball right for Owen Gregory to draw his man and allow Arron Robinson in to score his debut try for the club. The extras were added by Rob Brown. Derby City 6 Hope Valley Hawks 10.
Hope Valley were quick to return the deficit back to 10 with a move which found a couple of the Derby players off side from the tackle and in the confusion Hope scored between the posts. Derby City 6 Hope Valley Hawks 16.
The home side were awarded a penalty for a high tackle close to the opposition line, a quick pass left from Jon Doughty to Loose forward Lee Chapman saw Chapman advance and a perfectly timed pass to Full back Lewis Thompson allowing him to score his sixth try of the campaign. Converted by Brown. Derby City 12 Hope Valley Hawks 16
The direct approach that Hope were taking was again causing havoc within the Derby ranks, all decisions appeared to be going against the home side however they needed to push this out of their minds to ensure the Hawks didn't take further advantage. Unfortunately this didn't happen immediately as with the Derby players trenched close to the Hawks line a unnecessary pass was intercepted by the defending winger and his sprint to the line saw a converted try between the posts. Derby City 12 Hope Valley Hawks 22
This was turning into a complete turn around from the first match but thankfully Derby were determined to end the half the stronger as again Chapman used his strength to drive over the whitewash for an un-converted try. Half Time Derby City 16 Hope Valley Hawks 22

Half time talk revolved around restructuring the Derby game, the big hits from Hope Valley and silly mistakes had cost Derby highly in the first half and set completion was paramount. Target was for Derby to score next however the Hawks had other ideas as the opposition scored a converted try within the first five minutes. Derby City 16 Hope Valley Hawks 28.
A dropped shoulder from Cartlidge sent two defenders the wrong way and he sauntered across the line, converted by Brown. Derby were playing their game and needed to finally stamp their authority. Derby City 22 Hope Valley Hawks 28.
End to end action continued as again Derby missed a tackle on the half way line, this was followed by a further three missed attempts for Hope to score an un-converted try in the corner. Derby City 22 Hope Valley Hawks 32.
City were not finished and what followed in this final twenty minutes summed up the Derby season. Firstly Doughty dived for the line for his tenth try of the season, converted by Brown. Followed by Robinson who scooped the ball from the tackle and stretched through three defenders to score. Derby City 32 Hope Valley Hawks 32.
Neither team were content with a draw and with only four minutes to go Lee Rowland broke through the right followed by Anthony Finch driving on a few more yards. Then quick ball saw the interchange of Brown and Cartlidge finishing with a miss pass across two players for Winger Adam Walker to sprint around the outside to reach the corner of the try line. The referee took a moment and finally awarded the try. Derby City 36 Hope Valley Hawks 32.
Respect to the away team as they continued to pressurise the Derby defence however time was against them and Derby maintained their strength to win. Final score Derby City 36 Hope Valley Hawks 32.

Man of the match was a close thing however the award this week went to Winger Arron Robinson. A match of two halves for Derby, a well deserved result and Derby City continued the season unbeaten in league matches. Now comes the big match!! Derby finishing top of the Merit Division 2 league closely followed by Leamington Royals who they will now meet at Coventry Rugby Club on finals day on Saturday the 17th of August. Derby need to step up their game if they want to be winners on the day.