STRAIGHT EIGHT!
LOUGHBOROUGH 24 - 32 DRONFIELD
Dronfield visited 4th place Loughborough looking to continue their winning streak by making it eight in a row and more importantly maintaining that second place play-off spot.
Dronfield started brightly and were camped in the Lough 22 for the opening minutes of the game. On 12 minutes they secured a penalty safely slotted by full back Joe Farrell. 0-3
Lough came back at us and it took a great steal by flankers Hugo Ross and Sam Selwood to defuse a promising attack on 15 minutes.
Dronfield were having a hard day locking the scrum but were still getting results as even though they were getting pushed backwards they were pulling the ball out quickly to retain possession on their own ball and were even hooking some against the head on opposition put in. One such turnover put Dronfield on the attack on 26 minutes. Joe Farrell took the ball into the 22 towards the right corner. Despite taking a knock to the face he popped up in the opposite corner to score the try after the ball was spread along the line, with good work by fly half Alex Arch on the way. 0-8
On 32 minutes Lough struck back after recycling the ball well to score to the right of the posts.7-8
Dronfield scored next with winger James Marshall in at the corner after good work by Paul Joyce and Alex Arch. 7-15
Lough nearly scored just before the break, but a great try saving tackle by Selwood kept them out. 7-15
HALF TIME 7-15
Dronfield were nearly in for an early try with a super break by Scrum half Jake Steade but he just could not find the scoring pass.
On 50 minutes Lough scored a penalty to close the gap, 10-15.
On 53 minutes Sam Selwood scored with a solo drive to the line. 10-22
A few minutes later and Lough hit back with a try in the corner. 17-22
Loughborough then took the lead with another try. 24-22
No panic though and another hook against the head by Kenny Jones gave Dronfield possession which they used well for Marshall to score again in the corner. 24-29
Lough pressed hard to get the lead back but a penalty for offside secured the win for Dronfield. 24-32
Next week a home tie against Market Rasen
FINAL SCORE 24-32
SPW