Walsall will be disappointed with this latest result. They had produced three good performances in their opening matches of the season. But on this occasion, they met a Derbyshire team that showed a very committed approach throughout this Regional 2 encounter. They were content and confident in their ball carries and were consistently effective in recycling their possession. The hosts responded well with some excellent tackles and repelled several strong opposition attacks.
It was the hosts that opened the scoring after six minutes. Forwards Rhys Gaddu and Callum Hoy made good ball carries before the ball was moved away with flanker George Hill making the final try scoring run. The visitors eventually crossed for a try after a strong drive from a lineout. Walsall’s captain Adam Nunney put his team in front again with a forty yards penalty kick. Late in the half the hosts were reduced to fourteen after a yellow card. The visitors took advantage with a strong scrum followed by No8 Giddings driving over with Finney adding the conversion.
A good ball carry by Liam Taylor resulted in Nunney putting over a thirty yards penalty. This was followed by a fantastic try by Walsall’s scrum half Dean Ainger. A seventy yard, sidestepping run resulted in him crossing near the corner flag. The visitors then produced, what proved to be, a match winning period of play. They scored three tries in eight minutes. Giddings broke through tackles for his second try. Winger Tom Kelly gathered a chip ahead and crossed and then another strong drive from a lineout resulted in their final try with captain Finney converting. The final five minutes saw the hosts try their hardest to make a breakthrough. They were rewarded by a Liam Taylor try off a lineout with Nunney adding an excellent conversion and he also added a thirty yards penalty to at least secure a losing bonus point for his team.