Chesterfield 1st XV lose out to Melton Mowbray

Chesterfield Panthers 1st XV Vs. Melton Mowbray 1st XV Sat 13th Sept

Panthers lost out to recently relegated Melton Mowbray by five tries to one after a closely fought first half.

Chesterfield travelled to Melton Mowbray for the first game of the league campaign in good spirits after last season's dominance. Melton who had been relegated from Midlands 2 were a very well drilled side but it was Panthers who enjoyed a sustained period of early possession with only a missed shot at goal to show for their efforts.

Melton favoured quickly taken free-kicks & penalties and from one such Chesterfield indiscretion at a scrum they attacked quickly down the wing to score the first try in the corner.

The rest of the first half saw Chesterfield defend well with several superb cover tackles on the wing by Phil Cawthorne & Eric Wright to prevent counter-attacks from Melton. Chesterfield would finish the half feeling somewhat disappointed as although several penalties had allowed Chris Ward to kick into the corner, Panthers were unable to come away with any points.

After a tight first half it was Melton who came back out the blocks the quickest, immediately slotting a penalty from a Panthers mistake and then following this up with a try after some soft tackling by Chesterfield.

Credit to Chesterfield they put together some smooth phases and after Luke Holt had made some hard carries & a quick taken penalty by Eric Wright it was Luke Holt who was able to cross for Panthers first points of the season. Chris Ward added the conversion.

Melton immediately came back at Chesterfield and put away two very well taken tries after spreading the ball quickly through their backs to score both in the corner.

Chesterfield finished the game doggedly defending their own line and the final whistle brought an end to proceedings.

Man of the match was scrum-half Eric Wright who controlled the flow of the game, injecting pace to several counter-attacks while making several critical tackles.

Full time
Melton Mowbray 29 Chesterfield Panthers 7

Try: Luke Holt
Conversion: Chris Ward

Panthers: Paul Jones, Rob Davison, Steve Allen, James Kennedy, Chris Windle, Tom Rice, Matt Nesbitt, Luke Holt, Eric Wright, Rob Collins, Liam O'Neill, Tye Rose, Jordan Grayson, Phil Cawthorne, Chris Ward

Subs: Terry Titley, Ben Bunting, Joe Walton

Chesterfield face Nottingham Moderns at Dunsford Road next Saturday, 3pm kick off.