Saturday 28th Sept 2013

Saturday 28th Sept 2013
Chesterfield Panthers 2nd XV 39 - Creswell 1st XV 26
T: Liam Charlesworth x2, Chris Cooper x2, Connor Decosta, Rich Keeling, Jack Preece
C: Rich Keeling x2

After Mansfield 3rds had let us down at the last minute, a hastly re-arranged fixture with Creswell 2's, only to find out that we were playing their 1st team from Midlands 5.
Panthers started strong pushing Creswell all over the park, and winning scrums against the head, Liam Charlesworth burst through to score, then from a quick passage in play through great hands from Oli Thomas and Alex Tustin sets up Chris Cooper to score just 10m to the side of the posts with Rich Keeling converting.
After a series of silly penalties Creswell get into the Panthers 22 after a well worked move score between the posts and convert.
Panthers started to go through the set routines with the forwards and this paid results with luke Holt splitting the Creswell defence and moves the ball out wide to Liam Charlesworth to score.
Through an intercepted pass Creswell gained ground and found themselves on the Panthers 5m line, a good scrummage by Creswell sets up the 10 to side step and score.
Creswell then came back into the game, sloppy play and a lack of discipline and lazy defending for a 10 minute period allowed Creswell some good possession, but excellent covering tackles by Reece Newton stopped the scores getting closer, Connor Decosta scored and as Panthers set up a driving maul to score.
Creswell came back to close the scores at 22-21 at half time with a try against the run of play and taking full advantage of some refereeing decisions in their favour.

Some hard words were said at half time and a change of personnel and Panthers never looked back with Chris Cooper scoring an excellent run made for him by Luke Holt, Rich Keeling converting. Jack Preece started to use his bulk and power and from one such encounter he bulldozed over to score. From a good break and a delpth chip into Creswell's 5 metre line the ball bounced wickedly out for a Creswell's line out, though Rick Keeling didn't read the script and picked up a stay throw to power over the line to score.

Man of the match goes to Chris Cooper, DOD goes to Andy Macefield ( a bit unfair eh Jack!!)special mentions goes out to Steve Allen, Steve Lord, and in fact all the team who performed outstandingly through out the game, an excellent scalp beating a Midlands 5 team.

Well done to all, and a massive thanks to all the supporters who make playing in front of them a pleasure.