1XV Derby Uni 20 Oct 07

	Derby University, Saturday 20^th October, Home, Won 42-5
	Royces got back to the main task this season of picking up league points with the visit of local rivals University of Derby to Victory Road. The delayed arrival of the replacement referee gave both sides ample time to warm up and get their heads into this crucial game. Both sides needing to start a winning run to bolster their status in this League. The game started with the Uni’ having the majority of possession with good recycling and outplaying Royces in the contact area. Royces conceding several penalties when isolated and holding on to the ball. Despite this the opening period was played in the Uni’ half. Royces started to adapt to the breakdown requirements, good refereeing kept things consistent in this area, and created a good game of rugby. Royces opened their account with a Lawrence Betty try. Back into the Uni’ half and Royces picked up another score through a Paul McLaughlin penalty. The Uni’ kept to their game plan and managed to pressurise the Royces try line, around a ruck handbags got entangled and each side had a player receive a yellow card. Two further tries followed from Duncan Myres and temporary replacement Luke Daigneault. The Uni’ then lost their second prop of the game and the match went to uncontested scrums. Half time Royces 22 v Uni’ 0 The second half continued in the same manner, uncontested scrums allowed back rows to get more involved and the rest of the forwards conserve energy. With the game getting a little quicker the Uni’ tried several times to break out their half but poor handling or lack of support against a resolute Royces defence made very little headway. Royces got back to scoring with tries from Dan Sanderson (2), Sean Canty, Jon Peacock. E & O E – report written without the use of pitch side notes as this weeks reporter was “inside the ropes” and didn’t get the names of scorers until after the week-end Team :- J Peacock, D Myres, L Betty, S Canty, D Sanderson, P McLaughlin, W Greenway, I Ranft, A King, I Hildebrand, C Elliott, A Taylor, I Baker, M Brown, A Gill – M Drozdz, L Daigneault, S McNamara PS We now have to replay the game due to the game going to uncontested scrums !