The North Derbyshire Chargers' under 15s go from strength to strength as they secured their 9th league win in a row with a comprehensive victory over Elland at Barlborough Country Park. After last weeks 38-10 win over Kippax they were 2 points behind leaders York Acorn with a game in hand and were determined to keep up the pressure.
Elland started brightly and forced a drop out but with the Chargers having the slope and wind advantage it wasn’t long before Chargers were on the front foot and after 5 minutes Ben Doxey scored a trademark close range try converted by Harry Chapman. 6 points became 10 when a great run by Doxey set up an attack on the right side finished off by Ryan Banner out wide. Half back Luke Walters was spoilt for options as the big forwards and fast backs started to run riot.
Another great move with 2 offloads saw Joe Holland go over on 12 minutes, goaled by Chapman for a 16-0 lead. Callum Hallows joined in on the left side for another score on 14 minutes and Jake Beech dodged through the defence to give Chapman another goal in front of the posts to make the score 26-0 after just 17 minutes.
Elland were struggling to get any kind of possession and winger Paddy Ryan helped himself to a try out wide and Matt Bullars added another after a great run by Harry Stephenson, whose arrival on the pitch off the bench added extra attacking options that Elland simply couldn’t handle. A break by Corey Cox and several passes freed Hallows for a second try under the posts converted by Chapman just before half time to make the score at the break 40-0.
Elland now had the slope and wind advantage and started with the first try from a kick on 32 minutes. However the Chargers soon got back into their stride with a try by Corey Cox goaled by Walters, who also converted after Harry Stephenson’s solo effort on 38 minutes. Another try followed from Watkinson (converted by Walters) but then Elland scored a great try from long range to get into double figures at 58-10.
More tries followed from Bullars, Stephenson and Aaron Wycherley, 2 of which were converted by Chapman to make the final score 74-10. Lee Walters was clearly pleased. “The result was what we wanted but more importantly some of the rugby we played was very good. We have a long way to go yet as we are only half way through the season but I expect us to be challenging for honours at the end of the year.”
Chargers: Hallows (2T), Holland (1T), Trueman, Banner (1T), Ryan (1T), Watkinson (1T), Chapman (6G), Brain, Walters (3G), Doxey (1T), Briscoe, Wycherley (1T), Beech (1T), Fumhanda, Brown, Watson, Waller, Cox (1T), Bullars (2T), Stephenson (2T)
The under 13s, U11s and U9s had their festival cancelled due to waterlogged pitches in the Midlands.
Next week the Open Age team play Hull’s Haworth Park at home on Saturday, kick off at 1pm, and the under 15s are at home on Sunday against Whinmoor from Leeds at 11am.
