With the slope in their favour the big Chargers pack got on a roll and Ben Doxey again caused problems with two close range tries and further scores from Duell Trueman, Macauley Watkinson and Harry Stephenson together with goals from Chapman (2) and Hallows saw the Derbyshire side pull away. A further try for the Lions was a mere consolation as the score ended 36-14. Prop Matley Brain took the Man of the Match for another great, hard working effort.

Chargers: Hallows (1T,1G), Brown, Banner, Watson, Cox (1T), Watkinson (1T), Chapman (3G), Doxey (2T), Walters, Brain, Wycherley, Briscoe, Beech, Stephenson (1T), Fumhanda, Trueman (1T)

The Chargers also hosted a Midlands rugby league festival for all age groups from U8 up to U14. Teams from Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Derby and the Chargers took part in matches designed to develop skills and give all players maximum playing time. Many players were trying rugby league for the first time and some real potential talent was on show – particular mention goes to Wolverhampton Wasps who travelled 180 miles round trip to play their first ever fixtures.

Attending the festival were the Sheffield Eagles in the shape of head coach Mark Aston, international centre Menzie Yere and former Chargers player Lee Sanders. Huddersfield Giants prop Tony Tonks was also present to watch the U15s and pass on some words of advice.

The Chargers started the game by dominating posession, but a spilled ball was picked up by the Upton winger to score a long range try against the run of play. The Chargers bounced back and more pressure led to a well worked try by Harry Stephenson and a close range effort by Ben Doxey to give the Derbyshire side a shock lead. Upton finally got some possesion and equalised before half time with a try on the left side.

The second half was evenly matched but it was Upton who broke through, first on the right and then the left and it looked like their superior experience would start to tell but the Chargers fought back with a close range try from dummy half by Luke Walters and a long range try by Macauley Watkinson levelling the scores with 5 minutes to go. Unfortunately for them an error on the kick off led to an attacking position for Upton that they utilised well, going over to take the score to 5 tries to 4 (no conversions were taken as the game was reduced to 50 minutes). Even then the Chargers had a couple of chances to take what would have been a deserved draw, but it wasn’t to be. The performance should put them in good heart when they return to league action next week at home to Featherstone Lions.

The U13s, U11s and U9s all started their seasons with good performances in the Midlands Junior Festival at Nottingham, with Jacob Teasdale, Ross Walters and Joel Woodhead impressing for the U13s and Michael Smith being a stand-out in the U11s. Next Sunday all 3 sides, together with the U15s, play at home.

The junior festival kicks off at Barlborough Country Park at 10.30, with the U15 game at 11.00.

However 9 of the squad had been selected for representative duty in the Midlands v Sheffield Eagles Scholarship game played at Bromsgrove on Saturday.  The two Midlands players, Harry Chapman and Harry Stephenson, came away with the dressing room bragging rights as the Midlands ran out 28-8 winners.

Next week the Under 15s play a friendly at the Don Valley Stadium against Upton, a team 2 divisions higher, as a curtain raiser before the Eagles game against Leigh Centurions.   Coach Lee Walters is looking forward to it – “It’ll be a challenge but it’s what we need at this stage. We’ve made a good start but we have to sustain it over the next 6 months”, he said, adding “It’s great for the lads to play at the stadium and watch the game afterwards – and for the parents too”.

All the other Chargers teams start their seasons next weekend, with the First Grade team playing a friendly on Saturday against Haworth Park and the U13s, U11s and U9s starting on Sunday in a festival at Nottingham.

On Thursday night the club is holding a signing-on and shirt presentation night at Barlborough MW club, starting at 7pm. New players are welcome to come along  to hear the club’s plans for the season and meet players from Sheffield Eagles. For more information call Tim Fellows on 0785-294-5989.

North Derbyshire Chargers under 15s made it three wins in a row with a mixed performance against a spirited Wibsey side.

The game started well for the Chargers, the kick off going out on the bounce to give them an attacking scrum from which they took immediate advantage, prop Ben Doxey crashing over for a trademark try. Harry Chapman converted and then helped set up Macauley Watkinson for a second just four minutes later. Watkinson then turned provider for full back Callum Hallows to notch the third score – Chapman again adding the extras for an 18-0 lead. Things got worse for the visitors on 15 minutes when Chapman jinked over in the corner – this time Hallows converted from out wide. Just 2 minutes later and a large score looked on the cards when Aaron Wycherley crossed from close range – this
time the kick was missed.

Wibsey finally got some possession and spent some time pressing the Chargers defence until they threw an interception pass to Harry Chapman, who went 80m only to be caught by a great chase back from the Wibsey centre. It only delayed the inevitable as after one more play Chapman scooted over for another try, converted by Hallows on 24 minutes. The half time whistle went shortly afterwards with the Chargers up by 34-0.

The second half showed why you should never take any situation for granted. Wibsey came out determined not to let the Chargers run riot, and an immediate error gave them field position to score the first points after the break, the kick hitting the post to make it 34-4. More errors meant the Chargers spent time defending, which they did succesfully until 43 minutes when a spilt ball was capitalised on by the left side attack for a converted score, 34-10.

Macauley Watkinson sustained an injury in the build up and the team had to re-organise – however this didn’t change the pattern and another good try made it 14 unanswered points for the team from Bradford, whose half backs were now causing problems for a team having to make too many tackles.

Finally some quality possession saw the Chargers regain control on 50 minutes and prop Munashe Fumhanda, who got the man of the match award for some great drives and tackles, went over with another Hallows conversion making it 40-14. Wibsey had a try disallowed for a dropped ball over the line before Luke Walters scooted from dummy half for a try goaled by Paddy Ryan in front of the posts. The referee called a halt a couple of minutes later for a final score of 46-10, a win that keeps the Chargers at the top of the league, but with plenty to think about in terms of keeping to the game plan.

Chargers: Hallows (1T, 3G), Brown, Banner, Ryan (1G), Watson, Watkinson (1T), Chapman (2T,3G), Doxey (1T), Walters (1T), Brain, Wycherley (1T), Briscoe, Beech, Fumhanda (1T)

Photographs appear courtesy of RAW Sports Photography