WINTER ARRIVES AS RUGBY PLAYERS DONT FLINCH

TUPTON RUFC 36 ROLLS ROYCE RFC 12

MIDLANDS 4 EAST [N] WEST AT NORTH SIDE

27 NOVEMBER 2021 --- 2.15PM

TUPTON V ROLLS ROYCE WITH THE DERBY SIDE ON THE ATTACK

On a bitterly cold afternoon Tupton put on a solid display that saw them defend resolutely in the first half and power on to a comfortable points success in the second and in so doing produce a victory that secures them a mid table slot in the division.

The yearly trip to the rugby probably came a bit early this season but thankfully on this wintery weekend Tupton had a fixture against their Derby based opponents.  The snow had deposited a fair covering in the early hours of Saturday morning, although most of it had disappeared by kick off and alongside a drop in temperatures was a strong wind that brought back cold hands on the camera that I had not felt for a while, sadly as I shivered my way through the afternoon my action shots were not up to a great standard.

As on normal visits to the rugby I drop into stereotypes for the game but after watching this afternoons proceedings in the wet, cold and wind these lads really are a different breed compared to their football counterparts who just wouldn't have fancied it.

There was a precautionary inspection at noon although I think this may have been to check the pumps for the beer had not frozen rather than the state of the pitch.

LATE STAGES OF THE GAME ILLUMINATED WITH CLUBHOUSE OVERLOOKING

Tupton RUFC as regular readers know have developed superbly over the recent years with of course its excellent clubhouse and community connections backed up by its annual bonfire night with fireworks display.  The club under the guidance of Bob Curry who it was nice to have a brief chat to have seen him given the proud honour of being awarded the current Derbyshire RFU Presidency.  The day would also be the annual day for the clubs sponsors and vice presidents and surprisingly this normally falls on the day of my visit as well.

HIGH ENERGY FROM THESE LADS NO SOLAR PANELS NEEDED

[Apologies here for no names the club have a good Facebook page which normally updates match facts but sadly this time these were not available so it has to be a brief match overview]

Finding a hedge behind the A61 end sticks for some protections, although by twenty minutes in I was clearly not going to locate the feelings of my fingers for a couple of hours, was clearly a priority.  With Tupton defending the railway end and the strong wind favouring Rolls Royce it did look like the home side, with nine regulars out injured, would from early showings been made to work hard.  Indeed that's how it turned out with 95% of the half seeing the home side providing a solid and admirable effort all round to deny Rolls Royce.

Surprisingly they took the lead and with the conversion led 7-0 before the visitors notched up a try to trail by two at half time, this had been some effort by the home side.

FIRST TRY FOR TUPTON OPENS THE MATCH SCORING

After a brief interval everybody was grateful to get the game back under way and amazingly it was Rolls Royce who scored the first try of the half and with the kick maximum points were achieved.  This seemed to galvanise Tupton who went over to level the scores after this there was no looking back as they dominated the proceedings four more tries of which two were converted.

STANDARD RUGBY SCRUM SHOT AS TUPTON PUT IN

The second period had seen no let up in the wind and chill factor for the hardy fifty or so spectators who took up an external position to the clubhouse how many had stopped inside I know.  There was a first chance for me to see the training lights, that run down the clubhouse side, on for a game.  As regulars will know I'm not a regular at rugby union but this was a sterling effort from both sides in the conditions which were a credit to rugby union and at a club that has developed superbly at the heart of its community.  Hopefully I can return again soon to enjoy some more of this sporting commitment but with some slightly warmer weather.

CLOSE IN ACTION AS SEAGULL GETS IN ON THE ACT

Tupton first fifteen next return home on 18 December for the big local derby versus Chesterfield Panthers get the kitchen and bar well stocked now.

TUPTON CLOSE TO THE LINE 

GOALS RETURN AS PILSLEY CONTINUE WINNING FORM

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 5 DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE 1

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE B DIVISION AT RUPERT ST

20 NOVEMBER 2021 --- 2PM

SHANE MARRIOTT HIS FIRST FOR PILSLEY COMMUNITY V DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE

Pilsley gave their form guide a further boost with three wins from the last three and a victory that consolidated fourth spot in B Division of The Hope Valley League thanks to a comfortable 5-1 victory over Dronfield Woodhouse who still remain one place above them in the league.  A brace from Shane Marriott alongside a cheeky overhead kick goal from Curtis Sharples helped them secure the points against a side they had defeated 6-1 just two weeks earlier in the Roden Cup quarter final.

VIEW FROM WATERLOO PILSLEY TOWARDS THE DERBYSHIRE HILLS

The shock of the journey to Rupert Street today was the non requirement of an umbrella something I cannot remember when watching Community on a Saturday although as the light faded for the second half it has to be said the large coat was a wise selection as the wind became increasingly cool.  A slight deviation from the usual route took in Little Morton Road which strangely is at least three miles from the village of Morton.  The different walking path would had a different section to the journey on foot and was mainly to take a quick distance look at Little Morton Farm which had just last weekend featured on The Hairy Bikers show on the BBC.  The farm also had a connection in a family friend who had previously run this with their family from the middle of the last century with a milk round and a butchers shop in Chesterfield Market Hall.  The current owner has developed a chicken business with advise and supplies for perspective owners and also a keen interest in keeping of pigs, the sites attraction would appear to be a farm shop which appears to have been doing a fair trade since the airing of the TV programme.

CURTIS SHARPLES OPEN THE SCORING WITH AN OVERHEAD KICK

With a good forty minutes to play with today a wander around the Waterloo district and then the former colliery site around Slack Lane added to the journey but with an arrival well in time there was a chance to take in some of the wonderful views on this clear day as the sun highlighted different villages and areas of North East Derbyshire as the autumn glint remained in place. 

SHARPLES WATCHES HIS OVERHEAD KICK GO IN FROM A RECLINED POSITION

Pilsley would start with their fourth keeper of the season as the injury crisis continues and they welcomed Darren Shaw between the sticks today.  With manager Andy Bird away on a celebratory trip Kevin Carline, a relative of the famous Don at Ashover, would take control of proceedings.  Dronfield Woodhouse would arrive here following last weeks defeat of high flying 19th Hole and so Pilsley would not be sure what to expect.

NOTHING LIKE YOUR TEAMATES WATCHING ON

The home side started well with a long range shot from Steve Rogers who fired just wide of the target but normal service was resumed for Pilsley on three minutes when the cheekiest of overhead kicks from Curtis Sharples flew across the face of the goal and in to secure an early lead.  It was a high on confidence Community now and Harry Dudley put on a good run with a long range shot that fell just wide.  But they were not to be denies and doubled their lead on nineteen minutes when Rogers converted from close range.  With ten minutes to go to half time Pilsley left behind that two goal lead danger zone when they secured their third from a long throw off the right which found Marriott who confidently headed past the Woodhouse keeper.

PILSLEY KEEPER DARREN SHAW TO THE RESCUE

A quick half time break saw Dronfield re invigorated and for the first quarter of an hour Pilsley had to double their efforts to keep the visitors at bay non more so when Shaw [D] pulled off a full length save to deny them.  Pilsley did force their way out and it was Sharples who saw his shot blocked by the keeper and following up Bradley Lowbridge also saw the his cracking effort saved, 59 minutes.  Pilsley were back in the game now and a free kick off the left from Sharples was cleared by a defensive header from under his own cross bar the ball fell to Jack Shaw who headed back into the danger zone for Callum Baker to craftily back heel the ball over the line to make it four after 65 minutes.

WINNING DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE HEADER

Marriott forced the keeper into a save with a long range effort after determination in the challenge in the middle but with seven minutes remaining the visitors were not to be denied a consolation when a slick move saw Adam Flowers race on to fire past the Pilsley keeper.  But the home side would finish with the upper hand when Marriott secured his brace a curled in free kick off the left beat everybody and fell in at the far post as Pilsley hit five and secured three points which now puts them in a healthy league position to firmly put behind them the shaky start to the early part of the season.

RHYS WALLHEAD LOOKING TO TURN TO CLEAR HIS LINES

COLLECTORS ITEM

ASHOVER 0 FURNESS VALE 0

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE PREMIER AT MILKEN LANE

13 NOVEMBER 2021 --- 2PM

CLASSIC VIEW WITH THE PARISH CHURCH OVERSEEING ASHOVER V FURNESS VALE

Ashover and Furness Vale served up a highly entertaining premier league game and in the process a collectors item.  Its a rarity that games at grassroots level come up with a 0-0 score line and this was indeed supported by it being the first goal less game this season over the whole three divisions of The Hope Valley League.  

ASHOVER LOOK TO DENY FURNESS VALE

The continuing season of local games by walking thankfully goes on and for the reader who as been with us longer there is a lack of moaning about buses and trains to some far flung place from me and also lets just take a moment here a shortage of fish and chips.  Some of the time limiting reasons for this put me behind schedule today and it ended up being a direct one hour walk to Milken Lane and of course the much reported beauty of Ashover and its surrounds.  Alongside the most enjoyable of walks there is a collection of Hope Valley teams that always seem to cross my path and ones I look out for and todays visitors Furness Vale are one of those.

FIRST HALF FURNESS VALE FREE KICK

The autumn colours of gold were well in evidence along this walk and this had changed so much from the last ten days as the season was now full on.  Hitting Ashover Road as soon as leaving base does give you the feeling that you are not far away well it is only three miles but as many will know contains some nice steep bits within the three miles.  Feeling far from energetic it was a pleasure to arrive at the peak and admire the views before the drop down the unusually busy single track Milken Lane which unveils the beauty of the village on descent. 

VALE KEEPER GETS IN A VITAL CLEARANCE

The game then finds these two just behind the leaders and with Ashover having a better season than last season.  Looking at the side Ashover had out it was a much different team from a few weeks ago in the game against Chapel Town.  For Don Carline who we have mentioned many times before is now in is late 30 years in charge and we believe is the longest serving football manager in the country it becomes a constant battle to keep the club he loves going in the village he loves in the game he loves.  So you can see he loves it, thanks to people like Don the game at village level survives.

PERRY RICHARDS RECEIVES A THROW IN

The game then and firstly thanks to Don and Paul from the visitors for help with a few names for the report.  Also worth mentioning it was a difficult light day which means a few less pictures but with this happening now around 3pm it did help me enjoy what was a superb second half of entertainment.  

The first half was a tentative affair with both sides trying one another out but to the fore for Ashover were the two wide men in Callum Barker and Elliott Nuun alongside experienced striker Perry Richards ever a threat.  So half time arrived and there was just a wonder could a goal less game be on the cards.

WEAVING INTO THE PENALTY BOX

The second half swung into life with what seemed a harsh penalty awarded by referee Mark Davis on 53 minutes and home keeper Harry James pulled off a superb save diving full length to his right to save the unfortunate spot kick from Vales Simon Lomas.

This seemed to galvanise Ashover who responded with a close range effort being pushed onto the bar by the visiting keeper who had a superb game, especially so after he mentioned he had not turned out for 7 years.  The Vale keeper and woodwork saved them again on 83 minutes when Richards cut in off the right drove into the box and fired a sharp effort at goal the keeper got in a vital save that saw the ball fall onto the inside of the far post and was scrambled away by a defender.

The game had really opened up during this second half and Vale were also finding James in the Ashover goal matching the efforts of his counterpart with some excellent saves.  The visitors stormed forward in the last quarter looking for the winner but the home defence was magnificent with right back Jake Adlington and his opposite number Ash Stirling looking comfortable matched by the experience central defenders of John Donaldson and Paul Murphy who kept both the aerial threat and ground danger in check.  It could be said though that the visitors with a fair selection of shots on goal, that all flew wide or high, could have broken then deadlock if their shooting boots had been in place.  However this would take much away from Ashover who were also a constant threat.

This was probably summed up by the belief at the end of the game that it would have been disappointing for either side to have lost after they had put so much into this game which was a pleasure to watch, again finding The Hope Valley League in fine form for entertainment.

REFEREEE MARK DAVIS EXPLAINS HIS DECISION

Ashover remain in the heady heights of fourth while Furness Vale are one point behind in fifth spot.  

The steep climb back up Milken Lane to the views of a superb gold tinged sunset were punctuated near the top of the climb by our mates the alpacas who I can report were still not talking.

ALPACAS ALOOF AND STILL NOT TALKING

PILSLEY STORM THEIR WAY ONTO A CUP RUN

PILSLEY COMMUNITY 6 DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE 0

RODEN CUP QUARTER FINAL AT RUPERT ST

6 NOVEMBER 2021 --- 2PM

GARETH LEWIN CELEBRATES THE FOURTH FOR PILSLEY V DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE

Pilsley came up with the ultimate answer to last weeks heavy loss to leaders Hayfield with a Roden Cup romp against Dronfield Woodhouse, with three goals in each half and a hat trick from Curtis Sharples.  It was just the response manager Andy Bird and the players wanted and after last seasons run all the way into the final in The Cliff Ellis Trophy they find themselves one game away from another prestigious final.

FIRST HALF ACTION PILSLEY COMMUNITY V DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE

So Saturday at Pilsley means umbrella as normal with showers forecast we knew the day would be associated with a blustery wind and as the ascent the mile from Lower Pilsey brought me to the summit of the border with Pilsley itself and the ground the wind was howling around.  The prospect of this afternoon trying to hold a brolly up with camera and notes did not fill me with inspiration but the performance put on by the home side certainly fortified my determination on what turned out to be an enjoyable game.

DANIEL CAUNT SETS OFF

After last seasons disruption the determination of The Hope Valley League to complete their competitions gave me the opportunity to cover Pilsley, at Tibshelf, for their quarter and semi final in The Cliff Ellis Trophy.  This season with their relegation to B Division they would enter The Roden Cup and with their being just eight clubs in the league, with a three times play policy, they are already at the quarter finals at first round stage but I wont tell anybody if you wont.

REFEREE OWEN ISSUES THE ONLY CARD OF THE GAME

For Dronfield Woodhouse they sit above Pilsley in the league and it looked like a tough game but with Pilsleys good results in October, save for the Hayfield games, the opportunity to progress looked a distinct possibility.  

Last week saw player manager 44 year old Andy Bird between the sticks due to injuries but this week Matthew Parnham returns for the goalkeepers jersey and the side looked nicely balanced with the experienced Gareth Lewin moving back into the centre of defence.

CURTIS SHARPLES RECEIVES THE PLAUDITS FOR HIS SECOND GOAL

As referee Glyn Owen blew for the start of play the drizzle commenced on cue with the opening exchanges very balanced Parnham was called on to make two sharp saves to deny the visitors while at the other end Sharples found himself through in a one on one with the Woodhouse keeper but he pulled his shot wide.  The first goal in this encounter looked to be an important factor and it fell to Community on eighteen minutes when a 25 yard free kick was curled goalwards by Shane Marriott the ball flew back off the bar for Rhys Wallhead to convert.  The lead was doubled just short of the half hour mark again Marriott whipped in a free kick which the visiting keeper couldn't hold and Sharples fired the ball over the Dronfield Woodhouse line with a defender handling the ball it looked like a penalty had been awarded but after a moments contemplation referee Owen awarded the goal deeming the ball to have crossed the line, also saving the visitors being reduced to ten men.

SHARPLES COMPLETES HIS HAT TRICK

Pilsley would reach the interval three goals to the good thanks to Sharples who found his second on thirty nine minutes a high defensive clearance from the home side created trouble in the swirling wide bypassing the visiting defender aerial attempt to clear and Sharples was on hand to run on and score confidently past the keeper.

Thankfully in the current conditions a quick turn round found the second half promptly underway but it wasn't long before the rain got sharper and the light started to fade sadly limiting todays photos quality.

Proceedings started encouragingly again for Pilsley when Harry Dudley saw his long range free kick well pushed over one handed by the Woodhouse number one, he was called into action shortly afterwards woth an impressive full length save this time.  

There was time for the encourager Lewin to get on the score sheet when he flicked the ball in at the near post from a left wing corner to make it four with eighteen minutes remaining.  Pilsley had the game wrapped up now and were enjoying their afternoon with Marriott now coming even more to the fore in his feeding of the attack.  The lead extended further thanks to Kian Barlow working from an inside right position and he fed across for Sharples to gather himself to fire into the visitors net to claim his hat trick with seven minutes remaining.

The icing was put on the cake with two minutes left when Pilsley reached half a dozen again Barlow turned unselfish provider when his weaving run allowed him to cross to the unmarked Dudley to crash the ball home.

MARRIOTT POINTS OUT HAT TRICK MAN SHARPLES

A real moral boosting win for Pilsley who looked a well balanced side this afternoon with the always impressive Marriott bringing out the best in a selection of players around him, with special mention to Lewin who had thrown himself in the way of most things for the home side and left the field of play shortly before the end after a knock had we not have all been standing he would have received a standing ovation he certainly gained the plaudits of his fellow team members.

The weekend will be sweet for Pilsley and their management team with a confident return back to league action next week and a cup semi final to look forward too as well

A HAND UP FOR GARETH LEWIN AFTER TREATMENT