The Nuns travelled to Derby for the last game of 2024 but came away with a disappointing 30-28 loss in a game that they could have taken all 5 league points. Scoring four converted tries through a Nems Rayabo brace, Ben Haywood and Lucas Brindley and Joe Wilson adding all conversions they held a 21-3 lead and then 28-25 but couldn’t hold on.

A few changes in the side saw Ryan Marsh come in at prop for the unavailable Ben Dawes and Zeb Gibson in for Louis Addleton at hooker. Tak Chawadya came in for Ryan Preston in the backline.

Playing on Derby’s AGP the conditions were good with a breeze blowing towards one corner. It was the hosts that took an early lead from a 3rd minute penalty, 3-0.

The Nuns came back soon enough and after a couple of penalties were won they got themselves a lineout opportunity 5m out. From the secured ball Ben Haywood forced his way over for the try which Wilson converted, 3-7 after 6 minutes.

After a spell of possession and territory the Nuns extended their lead. Derby were reduced to 14 men after a yellow card for a high tackle was awarded. The penalty was 5m from touch on one side of the host 22m and Wilson sent the ball across the pitch to Rayabo on the opposite side who stepped his man with ease to score his first. Converted, the lead was extended to 3-14 after 18 minutes.

The next score came in the 29th minute to the Nuns. Derby had a scrum on their 10m and as they moved the ball to midfield it was fumbled. The Nuns backs gathered the loose ball and moved it wide for Rayabo to beat two defenders down the touchline to cross for his second which Wilson converted well to increase the lead to 3-21.

The Nuns then put themselves under pressure when running the ball out from gathering the kick off. It was spilt just on the 22m and then Derby went wide and recycled the ball through a few phases before crossing for their first try which was converted to bring the score to 10-21 after 32 minutes.

Then in the 35th minute, from a line out the ball was moved in field and the home centre broke through the line to glide through from 20m out and score under the posts. The score was now just 17-21 when the Nuns were well in control a little over 5 minutes before. This is how it stayed until half time.

Derby retook the lead in the 47th minute when, from a line out catch and drive they managed to wriggle their way over the line for an unconverted try, 22-21.

The Nuns then went further behind when the hosts slotted a routine penalty on 56 minutes to lead 25-22.
On 60 minutes the Nuns got their noses back in front. From a scrum outside the 22m they moved the ball into midfield and then Brindley stepped inside the defender the race clear and score by the posts with Wilson converting to move the score to 25-28.

Neither side could really assert any dominance or control of the game and it moved between the 22m lines. Then on 70m the Nuns were reduced to 14 men when Wood was yellow carded for retaliation at a ruck. Derby stepped up their efforts but the Nuns defence stayed strong at first. When the home side were held up over the line the Nuns had the chance to clear with a goal line drop out. The breeze didn’t allow the kick to go too far and after a couple more surges Derby crossed for a try which went unconverted but they now led again 30-28 on 73 minutes.

The Nuns tried in vain but couldn’t cross the half way line and with this the clock ran down. The final whistle went and a deflated Nun’s had lost a game that at one point they threatened to push clear from Derby.

After the game Head Coach Huw Thomas added “When we had possession in the first half we scored some well worked tries but we kept them in the game with some errors and the two quick scores before half time have cost us. We need to re-gather ourselves, get back to working hard at training and be better at what we know we can do. Overall 2024 has been a really positive year and now we have to work harder again to kick on into the back stage of this season.”

1 Jack Iles 2 Zeb Gibson 3 Ryan Marsh 4 Ben Haywood 5 Tom Aherne 6 Oli Mitchell 7 Rudi Reid 8 Martin Wood 9 Ben Kirby 10 Lucas Brindley 11 Tak Chawadya 12 Harry Beverley 13 Travis Bennett-Allcock 14 Nemani Rayabo 15 Joe Wilson; 16 Dave Darker 17 James Moreton 18 Mike Volaikisuva