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U14's - 35 Derby Blues RFC - 55
20/03/2010
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Cranleigh Get Derby Blues
Cranleigh RFC 35 – 55 Derby Blues RFC
U13s/U14s Tour Match
Sunday 21st March 2010
A hastily arrange fixture against the touring boys from Hingham USA saw the visitors eventually run out convincing winners, but not before both sides had demonstrated considerable skill & tenacity, as the match swung this way & that.
Cranleigh started well before the Derby Academy boys, known as the Blues, got their act together & came back into the contest. At half time they held a narrow 28-23 lead, but as soon as the 2nd half started the home side struck back with a brace of tries.
This in turn provoked a response from the Blues who once again took the lead as the lead kept on exchanging hand with regular momentum swings.
Ultimately though the Blues exerted their dominance up front, with a series of strong mauls & some better lineout work, resulting in them having the final say with 3 late tries as the home side visibly tired, having played the whole game with one man less.
Both sides did themselves & their coaches tremendous credit & we hope that as host we did so after the match too. The Derby boys now return home having enjoyed a two week tour of England including trips to both Cardiff & Twickenham.
Cranleigh hope to take up the offer of a reciprocal tour to visit the USA in due course. Many new friendships were forged which we trust will long endure, as will the Blue’s memories of their day at Cranleigh Rugby Club.
Pete Condrick, the visitors’ coach thanked Cranleigh for a good game & the Blues’ Joint Captains Jonathon Bloch & Colin La Libota presented the Cranleigh U13s/ U14s Captain Miles Hamer with a Derby Blues shirt as a memento of the game. Cranleigh RFC’s Toby Eves gave each of the Blues’ players & their Coach a Cranleigh Rugby Club 40th Anniversary tie.
It is believed that this is the first ever visit by a side of this age from the USA to tour England. Cranleigh RFC were very pleased to accept an 11th hour fixture request on the Friday before the game, after an SOS email was sent to them by Mr Tim Roberts, father of Loch Roberts, the visiting team’s No.8 & a former Cranleigh Mini player before his family moved to the USA. Happily Loch scored the final try as his team returned home triumphant!
