Chargers made the short trip cross country to play a Sleaford side that had narrowly beaten them four weeks previously.

After a turbulent week in which the team management of the side had changed and the attendance at training was at an all time low, the Chargers couldn’t have asked for a worse start to the game.  Travelling with just 16 players due to unavailability and injury, the opening 2 minutes started brightly with some strong runs from the Chargers pack and even the ball being shipped wide on several occasions but each attack was met with ferocious Spartan defence.  Then the Chargers seemed to capitulate. Three quick tries from Spartans put them 14-0 up after only 12 minutes.

As is the case with Chargers in most games this season conceding early tries seemed to be the catalyst for  a revival. First strong running from 2^ndrow Jamie Brown saw him crash over under the posts, 2minutes later a good break down field from Dave Brown supported b Ali McDougall , laid the platform for the Chargers attack, Tom Schofield hit Loose forward Damien Pope with a perfect flat pass and an offload out of the tackle saw prop Shan Edge drop over the line for his 2^nd try in two weeks.  Both tries converted by Pope.

Chargers were now in the ascendancy and another attack brought about another try, this time Stand of Josh Rymell showing Spartan like side stepping and pace to dive over nr the corer.  Pope stepping up to slot the extras.  For the next ten minutes it seemed to be a battle of the defences with very little given either way. With ten minutes to half time and the score Chargers 18-14 Sleaford, the inevitable Chargers sleep happened. And 2 quick tries saw the half time score 24-14 to Sleaford.

Unfortunately for the Chargers, the half time break worked in the opposite fashion to how a break should and the 2^nd half started as the first ended, Sleaford running in 5 tries before the Chargers could secure any decent ball of their own.  With 60minutes on the clock the score now read 58-18 and the players heads dropping, some big tackles out wide by Brown and wing Rob Eggleton seemed to spark the Chargers into life.  First a moment of magic, strong forward play, quick backs hands saw Brad Gozzard feed Adam Seredynski to beat his opposite winger before scoring. Pope again adding the extras, next up to score was Pope, who after strong runs by props Edge and Gary Pinnick saw the Chargers 5m out. Pope now in the hooker role picked up and drove over the line.  Again converting.

Spartans were now getting nervous, but with the clock on their side they just needed to hold out with big defence.  Chargers had other ideas and quick thinking by the backs saw Brown make a break down the centre channel, this was then driven in field by the forwards leaving now returning hooker Tom Schofield to pick up and dot over. Pope added the extras. With the score now Spartans 58-Chargers 36, the score line had a bit more respectability to it, but a moment of madness from Chargers saw them turn over the ball on the 1^st tackle, and the strong running Spartan pack sent their replacement prop on a run that any winger would be proud of, stepping 4 tackles before driving the defender over the line.

Chargers were to have the final say though as more strong runs into the opposition half saw Brown stopped just short and a quick pop pass from Rymell to Pope saw him dive over for his 2^nd in the corner.  Conversion missed ( I blame tired legs!)

Once again Chargers on the wrong end of a high scoring game.  We are finding this league very tough but are the masters of our own downfall with poor defence and fitness levels not up to scratch!  Our attack seems to be getting there but the main emphasis for the next few weeks will be defence defence defence.  Training is 6.30pm-8pm at Netherthorpe School every Wednesday!

MOM – Dave Brown – for train like defence

DOD – Adam Seredynski for his forward roll try when 30points down!

In a hard fought and physical game in Hull, the North Derbyshire Chargers Under 16s team succumbed to their first league defeat since the first day of last season against a well drilled and Hull Victoria Titans side.  Despite being reduced to twelve men after 20 minutes, the home side put in a good performance against a Chargers side which at times looked tired and unable to find that breakthrough which has allowed them to be dominant against lesser opponents.

With the Titans top of the table this was always going to be a difficult prospect, but their ability to control the middle of the field and to reduce the attacking options for the Chargers allowed the home side to dominate large parts of the game.  This was further compounded by a few stray passes which gifted possession to the opponents in a number of strategic positions on the pitch.

The Titans opened the scoring with a move up the left hand side of their attack which culminated in a score after 12 minutes in the corner which they could not convert.  The Chargers first score came as a result of some quick thinking by Luke Walters who took advantage of the opposition’s disagreements with the referee to score on the Chargers left wing after an incident which ultimately saw Titans reduced to twelve men.

The Titans were to score another try before half time, this time successfully converted to leave the Chargers trailing 10-4 at half time.

The start of the second half saw more handling errors with balls going to ground and possession swapped between the teams in the middle of the field.  A loose pass in their own half gifted the ball to the Titans who ran the ball in between the posts and the subsequent conversion saw the scoreboard tick over to 16-4.  The Chargers were to have a try disallowed in the 19th minute as a kick failed to find touch and was batted back into play by a member of the Titans team, picked up by Ryan Banner who then scored next to the posts.  Play was subsequently brought back, as the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line.  However, less than two minutes later and the final score of the game came 20 minutes into the second half with Callum Hallows finishing off a sweeping move out on the left of the Chargers attack to score in the corner with the conversion subsequently missed which left the game at 16-8.

A number of injuries to Titans players towards the end of the second half disrupted play and the team were unable to find their usual rhythm leaving many players frustrated at their performance, but with games in hand the Division 2 title is still within reach of the team.

Although a disappointing result, there were still some glimpses of the talent and ability inherent within the team.  Joe Holland and Sam Bennett showed composure under pressure and attacking prowess with Ben Doxey, Munashe Fumhanda, Matley Brain, Toby Williams, Matt Bullars and Ryan Banner all putting in good performances in driving the ball forward.  Luke Walters, Jake Beech and Corey Cox were effective in both attack and defence.  Harry Chapman provided a number of pressure relieving kicks as Chargers looked for a way back into the game and Macauley Watkinson was on hand to ensure the team remained disciplined in difficult circumstances.

Photographs from the game (taken by @NFSPhotogaphy) will be available when processed.  Statistics will also be updated shortly.