OUTLAWS 42 DERBY CITY (10/5/2008)

Report by Richard Johnson

Photos by Gav Slater (gallery)

Nottingham Outlaws Rugby League Club celebrated their first match in their new home at The Bay by sweeping to a hard-fought but ultimately emphatic 42-10 victory against local rivals Derby City. The match was much closer than the scoreline reflects, indeed the Outlaws were twice behind on the score-board before a turbo-charged second half performance finally put some daylight between them and a gutsy Derby City outfit.

Prior to kick-off, Outlaws coach Martin Crick had to re-shuffle his team as injuries forced the withdrawl of Myles Rutherford, boom centre Tom Howley, and burly prop Ben Yeardley. In came Bryn Waldram fresh from academy duty, Aidan Pritchard was promoted to the starting line-up and powerhouse prop Sam Taylor was handed his first team debut.

On a blisteringly-hot day both teams took to the field in front of a large, sun-baked home crowd. In previous matches this season Nottingham have blown away the opposition with a whirlwind start that catches the opposition on the back foot. They tried to do the same in the opening exchanges but a highly-motivated Derby outfit were more than ready to meet the challenge and in a frenetic opening 5 minutes they managed to repell the Outlaws early attacks with good defence, denying the Outlaws from making their customary flying start. Indeed the visitors not only stood up to the early test, they went one better when a break from inside their own half released Manning inside the Outlaws red zone and the pacey centre scorched over the line to silence the Outlaws faithfull as their team fell behind for the first time this season.

Above: Livewire loose-forward Rob Brown attempts to break the shackles

Stunned by this reversal, the Outlaws forced their way back up the pitch, winning a series of penalties and they soon levelled matters when Martin Edwards, playing in his less-accustomed position of centre, dragged 2 defenders over the line with him for a score to the right of the posts. Ben Thornton slotted over the extras to level the scores at 6-6. However, within less than 5 minutes Derby were back in front when poor work on the fringes of the Outlaws defennce caught the home team flat-footed and slick handling by the visitors opened up a huge gap for Derby centre Cartledge to score in the corner. The kick was too far out to convert but at 10-6 the Outlaws were behind again in a match that they knew they must win if they were to retain top spot in the table.

As the game entered the second quarter the pace remained frenetic as both teams searched for the next score. The Outlaws began to turn up the heat and Will Thomas looked to have scored in the corner for the Outlaws only for the referee to dissallow the try for interference. Play then switched up to the other end of the pitch following a great 40-20 and Derby should have extended their lead only for last ditch Outlaws defence to deny them by inches.

With the match continuing to ebb and flow neither side could gain the ascendancy, the Outlaws in particular were squandering chance after chance, with poor handling and wrong options constantly coughing up the ball. However, with half time approaching the spluttering Outlaws attack finally clicked into gear. On the last tackle confusion rained on both sides as 2 miskicks by the Outlaws somehow kept the ball alive. As a the loose ball bobbled over into the in-zone the quick-thinking Paul Calland seized the opportunity and pounced on the ball to score a great opportunistic try. Thornton added the extras and at 12-10 the referee blew to end a frenetic first half with the Outlaws just in front for the first time in the match.

Above: Try-scorer Roy Yorke evades the clutches of the Derby defence

At half time Coach Crick had a few firm words with his charges, impressing on them on the need to remain patient and complete sets. The lesson seemed to have been taken on board as a more-measured Outlaws team took to the field at the start of the second half. The Outlaws began to retain possession more effectively and as a result they started to dominate field position. Powerful drives by the Outlaws forwards began to pay dividends, with George Strachan and Adam Milward leading the way as the derby defence began to miss tackles for the first time in the match. On 50 minutes a powerful surge by Adam Millward broke the Derby line and as the cover defence approached Millward released supporting winger Roy Yorke who out-sprinted the Derby defence to sweep in at the corner before touching down under the posts for a converted try and an 18-10 lead for the home team.

The Yorke try seemed to be just what the Outlaws needed. The Outlaws play became more confident and the passes began to stick where earlier they were fumbled. As a result the Outlaws attacking machine clicked into overdrive and with it came more tries. In a scintillating spell the Outlaws scorched in for 3 quick tries. First over the line was Rob Brown after a superb break on half-way by the effervescent Strachan took him into the Derby red zone before releasing to the supporting Calland who fed Rob Brown on full throttle and the dynamic loose-forward scooted over the line for a great try. The home crowd were just begging to settle when another break in the forwards, this time by the rapidly-improving Aiden Pritchard saw the young tyro break clear and yet again Calland was on hand to collect the ball and this time he released Ben Thornton to step back inside and wrong-foot the home defence. The third try in this golden spell came from Aiden Pritchard. The young forward had already made a huge impact, topping the Outlaws tackle count on defence and punishing the home line with his size and evasive footwork on attack. The young Pritchard was duly rewarded when he burst onto a slick inside ball from Calland to crash over the line for a well-deserved try and the Outlaws were in total command at 36-10.

Above: Man-of-the-Match Adam Millward looks to offload to support

As the match reached its climax, the pace began to slow as the temperature took its toll. However, there was still time for one more score and it deservedly went to Outlaws scrum half Jimmy Lewis. The young play-maker has easily had his best ever season so far in an Outlaws shirt and his partnership with the mercurial Paul Calland has been at the heart of virtually every Outlaw try. Once again the foundations were made in the forwards as the dynamic Millward burst through a tiring Derby defence into the clear. As ever there was support on hand and Jimmy Lewis took the pass from Millward, shaped to pass to his centre only to throw 2 outrageous dummies as he scooted under the posts without a Derby hand being laid on him. Ben Thornton calmly added the extras, making it a perfect 7 out of 7 for the Outlaws sharp-shooter and a personal tally of 18 points in the match. As the ball flew between the sticks the referee drew proceedings to a close with the Outlaws maintaining local bragging rights with a 42-10 victory.

As the tired but elated Outlaws posse listened to the post-match de-briefing, they could reflect on a well-earned victory. Fixtures against local rivals Derby City are always frantic affairs, especially with the Outlaws containing no fewer than 3 ex-Derby players in their line-up. Each of them put on a superb display against their ex-team mates, non more-so than the human dynamo that is Adam Millward. The workaholic forward was literally "on-fire" for the duration of the match and he deservedly took the man of the match award for a superb non-stop display.

After the game, Coach Martin Crick had mixed feelings on the performance, adding "Overall, it was a somewhat patchy performance. Our completion rate was only around 50% which is poor and against a better team we would have been put to the sword. However, there were good aspects too, not least our fitness and clinical finishing in the last quarter. The last phases of the game showed what we can do when we maintain composure and if we can play at that level of intensity, we can compete with teams at the top of this division"

Next saturday the Outlaws have a gap in their fixtures, taking a well-earned week off before they face a tough away journey to Bedford, hoping to retain their lead at the top of the Midlands Premier Division.