Last weekend, we had a club first, where for the first time our Adults and Minis both made the same trip up the A38 from Derby.
Amber Valley were the hosts and the adults were first up to play a league game.
The game was a very well matched affair played on a very wet and dirty pitch after the heavy rain. Inevitably it didn’t make for champaign rugby with both team struggling to string anything together. The visitors started the brightest by keeping possession well and supporting the carrying players. After a spell of pressure, new player Scott Leggate was over the whitewash with a well spotted pick and go around the corner of the ruck. Rolls-Royce continued to apply pressure and again, after a period of good possession, found themselves with an 3 on one overlap and it was down to Marcus Hawes to throw the dummy and splash over for the visitors 2nd try. Rolls-Royce then went on to have a disjointed ten minute spell, throwing passes under pressure in their own 22 and inviting the hosts into the game, gifting territory at times. Despite much pressure, Rolls-Royce defended their own line really well with some big hits and last ditch tackles being made to keep the hosts out.
A few stern words at half time and Rolls-Royce reset well, starting the second half well and Leggate made use of the possession to get over for his second try. From then, Rolls-Royce were fairly outside of the hosts half and controlled the last 30 minutes of the game excellently and, following trips to the sin bin for Steve Jones and his opposite number, continued to keep possession. The relentless pressure eventually led to a couple of yellow cards for Amber Valley which let Leggate get in in the last 5 minutes for his hat-trick and a Rolls-Royce bonus point victory.
Overall a difficult game and a great win for the lads in tough conditions.
The minis made the same trip on Sunday to Amber Valley with all the Rolls-Royce age groups. We had a great turnout, despite the weather and had an awesome morning of rugby!! The under 7s and 8s played some fun tag rugby whilst the under 9s, 10s and 11s played a mixed contact game which was very competative but played in great spirit with spectators cheering on both sides!!
The kids loved the mud and got really stuck in, we are not too sure the parents agreed.
Amber Valley were great hosts after the games for the adults and the kids and welcomed us into their clubhouse for food and socialising.
Amber Valley minis are travelling to Rolls-Royce RFC for the annual Presidents Day, which will celebrate 80 years of the rugby club in 2023. We look forward to welcoming and hosting for this special occasion.
That Steve Jones sounds like a nasty character