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Derwent ran out emphatic winners and claimed top spot in the College Rugby league with a clinical yet unconvincing display against a physical Vanbrugh.
With recent news that there will be a brand new fixture list this term; this match culminated the games from last term.
Playing against an oncoming wind the men in purple showed initial fight before going behind due to Josh Clewes’s surge to the try-line from close range.
Will Harnden capped his return to the Derwent XV by timing a run to intersect the gap in the onrushing Vanbrugh backline and go over to double the lead.
Vanbrugh rallied, no. 8 Matt Thorp made strong runs at the blue’s defence. However, after a series of phases it was Derwent’s no 8 Hugo Marino who was the next to score as he powered over from five metres.
Marino, later voted Man of the Match, added a second and the side’s fourth, as he found himself on the end of a move to double his tally. Oliver Wessely kicked the resulting conversion to keep up his 100% record.
Before the half was out Derwent was to add to their first half point score with two further tries. Scrum-half Henry Guest wriggled through his tackler to go over, before starting a backs move in his own 22 which was finished with aplomb by Ed Kemp.
Vanbrugh had the strength to cause Derwent some damage in the second half. Will Routledge’s boot was used to plant his opponents deep in their half, whilst Mark Gibbard at outside centre was a handful for anyone.
Despite their strengths, Vanbrugh side lacked a clinical edge to trouble the score-sheet. Just as resilient as they were in defence, Derwent were deadly in attack. Phil Hammick weaved through the Vanbrugh defence early after he had come on to score. Before Jamie Criswell was set on his way to score from a debatably forward pass.
The final twenty minutes were a sloppy affair as legs tired. Both teams showed little organisation in and around the ruck. Dominic Munns and the hat-trick hero, Hugo Marino took advantage of this by evading Vanbrugh’s defenders and score run-away tries to complete the rout.
Elsewhere, James narrowly overcame a last ditch Halifax fightback to beat their sporting neighbours 26-19 to finish their matches from last term.
Next week will see all six college teams in action as they fight it out for top spot in the league.