Chesterfield Panthers Under 13s opened 2026 in emphatic style with a confident home victory over Dronfield on Sunday 18th January. The match was a rematch of the final fixture of 2025—one the Panthers controlled comfortably—but this return encounter was arguably even more dominant. From the opening scrum to the final whistle, Panthers displayed standout teamwork, sharp attacking shape and relentless defensive energy.
Although the game was cut short at half-time at Dronfield’s request, the 25-minute spell was packed with excellent rugby across the whole squad.

First Half
Panthers wasted no time asserting themselves. After an early scrum, the forwards combined well, creating the platform for George R to cross for the opening try just minutes into the match.

Another try followed quickly. A strong counter-ruck turned possession over, releasing the backs down the left flank. Tobi drew defenders before offloading to Enzo H, who finished clinically for his first score of the day.

Moments later, Panthers struck again. From the restart, Freddie intercepted a Dronfield pass and surged forward. Although eventually tackled, Tylor reacted sharply to collect and sprint in for another convincing try.

Panthers maintained the pressure with a flowing move sparked by another strong run from George R, ending with a well-taken try from Freddie. Another score soon followed—Elliot carried hard, linked with Tobi, who once again timed his offload perfectly for Enzo H to claim his second.

Dronfield attempted to respond from the next restart, but Panther defensive organisation held firm. A determined set of tackles kept the visitors pinned in their own half and prevented any momentum shift.

A Dronfield scrum provided rare possession for the away side, but Panthers won it against the head. Quick hands and sharp decision-making led to another try as Tobi and Enzo H combined yet again.

A further try came from another scrum win. Ollie spread the ball smoothly across the backline, allowing Tobi to sell a convincing dummy before putting Tylor into space for his second score. Josh F tracked well in support, ready to secure the play if needed.

Panthers continued to overwhelm the stretched Dronfield defence, with George R adding his second and Enzo H completing his hat-trick.

A highlight moment followed as new recruit Rory charged through four Dronfield defenders to secure his first try for Panthers with an outstanding show of strength and determination. Enzo S rounded off the scoring, closing a frustrating half for the visitors.

With numbers depleted and several Panthers—Finn S, Ed, Malakai and Josh O—helping to bolster their side during the first half, Dronfield chose not to continue into the second half, resulting in the match closing early at 25 minutes.

Squad Performance
Panthers’ counter-rucking was consistently effective, repeatedly turning defence into attack. Leadership on the pitch was decisive and calm, allowing the team to shift play between forwards and backs fluidly. The unity across the squad—starting players, finishers, and those supporting Dronfield—reflected the strong culture developing within the group.

Player Highlights & Spirit of the Match
With the fixture ending early and both teams mixing players to keep the first half flowing, no Man of the Match was awarded. Instead, the emphasis was firmly on the collective performance. Every player contributed strongly to the tempo, physicality and cohesion that defined the match.