Stafford Marvels and Shropshire Stags vs Derby Bucks

The Marvels & Stags (M&S) welcomed Derby Bucks to Blackberry Lane for the first encounter between the teams this season. The previous season saw the Bucks take home and away wins against the M&S in some tight games. But the county town has continued to grow its team and with a number of new recruits it promised to be an exciting afternoon of rugby.

Derby came crashing into the match, putting the M&S immediately onto the back foot. Some slick handling undid the home side defence and the visitors were soon one try up. The M&S shook themselves back into shape and using their experienced forwards started to make some hard yards. The Bucks were reluctantly forced backwards, eventually digging in on their own line. A couple of ferocious assaults were forcibly thrown backwards, but Matt Powell found the space to carry across a couple of defenders for the equalising try. Derby took control from the restart and a probing kick was brilliantly caught by James Hughes to relieve the pressure. The teams tussled around the central park before an ever-opportunistic Mark Broomhall intercepted a pass to score under the posts, converted by James Hughes. The visitors were starting to have a torrid period trying to contain an exuberant M&S performance. A surging run by Jack West took the next to score when the defence were swept out of the way and the county town player dotted down for a try. The Bucks starting playing some good rugby, but they couldn’t find the rhythm to escape their own half. Just when they had started to put some phases together Maciej Drywa punctured all of the visiting momentum when a slippery run took him deep in opposition territory. A popped-up ball was collected by Pete Mills who hared across the line for the final try of the period. The Marvels & Stags went into half time leading 22 – 5 but having to put in a vigilant shift against a dangerous Derby performance.

Now with a raucous club house behind them, the Bucks started the second half with a new energy. A well worked early try cut the deficit to just ten points and all of the play was starting to come from the visitors. A succession of penalties kept the pressure on a now defending M&S who were very much under the cosh. The home side had to work hard to get their hands on the ball and it took a tremendous effort to put any passes together. The stubborn shift by M&S led to an eventual turnover and some slick handling shipped the ball across the pitch. The final pass found Reuben Sutton who kicked into an immediate top gear, leaving scorch marks on the artificial surface as he tore away for a try which he then converted. The visitors returned to the fray and continued to create their best opportunities of the afternoon creating havoc in the home side ranks. They got their reward through two well finished tries which bought the scores to within four points in a very competitive encounter. M&S continued to absorb everything thrown at them and tenacious work slowly started to turn the tide. Derby put up a hearty resistance but were soon rooted close to the clubhouse end. The flowing M&S flew in from all angles with both sides putting in some fierce tackling. The subtle movement in the home side attack produced the smallest of chances and Colton Mclaughlin tore through for a try converted by Zac Pressland. Some tireless Bucks play found a perfect response when a tiring try dragged the scores back to a seven-point difference. It was left to M&S who finished the strongest to decide a see saw encounter. Derby continued to scrap away for an elusive ball whilst the fresher looking home side inched their way up the long field. The hosts spent their final reserves by crashing plays through the ever-eager forwards. The back line rippled into action and added their energy to eat up some ground of their own. A stubborn Bucks defence managed to slow everything down dragging play almost to a halt. With one final surge M&S threw themselves into the final brawl. Time looked to have beaten everyone but Matt Powell had the mighty legs to power across for the final try of the afternoon, converted by James Hughes.

If you would like to join in with Mixed Ability we train every Monday night down the club, or just ask in the club who will point you towards someone who can help or drop Danni Bayley a line.

Next MAR Match; Saturday 9th March 2024, Away vs Longlevens Mixed Ability.