Veterans

As usual, the Matlock Vets were a team moulded together at the eleventh hour and under the guidance of captain Ray Mullaney put on a show of handling

that was the envy of the home team. It was Derby however that controlled the first exchanges with their large pack dominating the rucks and mauls and It

was the home forwards that created space for the first try of the day which was rounded off by an unstoppable drive for the line. This turned out to be

one of the few high points for Derby who slowly gave ground as the men from Matlock began to dominate. Once the visitors avoided mauling contests and

kept the ball alive they found it easy to move the home side around. A try by Phil Pollock was added to by Andrew Poole who claimed the conversion to

add to his earlier penalty. Poole then contributed a further try and conversion as Matlock finished the half strongly.

Although a determined Derby came back at the beginning of the second half to score their second try Matlock never lost shape. The forwards were immense

as they overcame opponents who had a stone a man advantage. Andy Croft was particularly noticeable, carrying the ball forward on many occasions. Support

by Tate, Toone, Foukes and Boulton prove to be critical as the visitors started to run the home team around. As always the half backs of Philpott

and Mullaney gave good early ball to the back division where the centre pairing of Pollock and Jim Eaton were superb and with Poole starting to

create havoc with his entry into the line Derby were run ragged in the last twenty minutes. Four further tries by George Edwards, Dave Toone, that man

Pollock again and Dave Tate emphasised the visitors superiority on the day and allowed the Matlock men to bask in the glow of a job well done.