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 |
STANDARD RUGBY SCRUM SHOT AS TUPTON PUT IN |
CLOSE IN ACTION AS SEAGULL GETS IN ON THE ACT |
TUPTON CLOSE TO THE LINE |