Match Report v Buxton

DERBYSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
RUGBY SECTION

Saturday 16th August 2007, Buxton 3rds (/2nds/1sts) 12 V DRFRS 21

Derbyshire FRS began the ’07 –’08 season with a friendly (oxymoron!) game against Buxton, itching for revenge from their defeat last season! Typical Buxton weather of rain and wind made you forget it was summer!
Fire started without many of the faces from last season, due to shifts and holidays we had an embarrassment of forwards but not many known backs. This proved to be our making!
The game started with Fire receiving the kick and instantly making their mark on the game, our forwards constantly driving thru’ the middle of Buxton and having several exciting passages of play, sometimes having 6, 7, 8, or more phases and gaining ground like billy-ho! Lets here it for the extinct but yet strangely arisen DODO’s, a second row of Divisional Officers Drew and Curry with a combined age of 92!! They saw off their much younger and fitter Buxton counterparts, Dave Drew turning a great ‘Lawrence Dallaglio’ like resurrection after several years away from the game and Bob Curry ‘accidentally’ turning an opponents nose into a very red and sore garish chocolate fountain look-alike! The same could be said of Retained Firefighter Paul Boon from Bakewell (flanker and second row), Val Morrel (No. 8 and scrum half) and Mark Leatherland (second row) both from Ascot Drive, all away from the game for a while, but still turning in excellent performances.
This concentrated effort very soon paid off with Silvano Francisco deservedly scoring Fire’s first try with yet great individual break, Jim Barber’s svelte kicking making the score a deserved 7- 0.
With the pack making so much ground it was a long wait for the backs to receive any ball, notwithstanding that when the ball did go wide, Andy Holmes, Andy Rowse, Stan Williamson and Wayne Dilworth all made excellent runs. A mention must be made here to Tristan Nesbitt from Graphics, hasn’t played since school, endured the weather on the wing and had a terrific game; we need more support staff to join us!
Yet more concentrated effort from the pack saw a 2nd and then a 3rd try both from Chris Bailey, these again converted by Jim Barber. Fire overwhelmed Buxton in the first half, with only 1 incursion of any depth into our half and this firmly stopped by solid defensive work.
Several changes during the break for both teams saw Fire a little lacking in fluency to begin with and Buxton bringing on numerous 1st team players, this apparent straight after the restart when their tasty fly-half collected our kick and ran a mean streak thru’ fire to score an excellent goal, this was converted to make the scores 7 – 21, and it looked as though the Buxton changes were going to make a game of 2 contrasting half’s. Worry thee not dear reader, for as ever, Fire’s defence began to solidify and although Buxton enjoyed more possession and territorial advantage than the first half, only one more try came from them, this conversion being missed to make the final score Buxton 15 V DFRS 21.
What a brilliant effort from all involved, no training, no tactics (as such) and no time to gel, though gel we did! And several old warhorses being admirable in effort and execution!
And it must be remembered that everyone ENJOYED IT!

A performance to reassure all and sundry that this team goes from strength to strength.

Further positive news is that:
Ben Heanue (Fixtures secretary) has several games planned and we hope to print a fixtures list to allow players and supporters more time to organise joining in.

Ben Smart, Silv Francisco, Matt Shimwell, Rob Leverton and Nigel Measures have been invited down to England Fire Service Rugby Section Trials on the 26th September at Stourbridge RFC in the West Midlands; with the potential of joining Chris Bailey and John Heggie who are existing England Rugby Section players.
Succeed or otherwise, let’s wish these lads good fortune.

Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness,
and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."
Billy the Bard – Twelfth Night, circa 1600AD

With shifts, family and other commitments, we still need more people from retained, support staff, in fact ALL parts of the service, to come along and try us out, most people come back for more! So………….
Please contact:
Captain - Chris Bailey, Blue Watch, Chesterfield
Vice Captains – Ben Smart, White Watch, Ascot Drive For
Wayne Dilworth, Red Watch, Buxton more
Rob Leverton, Green Watch, Alfreton information or advice!
Greg Fletcher, Blue Watch, Chesterfield

Rugby Fact:”The only way to gain ground is to run or kick. Throwing or knocking the ball forward is not permissible.”