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The EDF Cup brought Eastern Counties II side Dereham up against Thetford from Eastern Counties I. The balance between these two clubs has swung back and forth in recent years with a consistent theme of full blooded and exciting matches. With the ground as hard as asphalt and the wind howling up the pitch the elements were also set to play a big part.

Dereham started with the wind and Derbyshire was quick to use it’s full effect to send Thetford back into their own half with 40yd kicks whenever they threatened the home side’s line, but the early mid field tackling was lacking in bite and an innocuous switch by the Thetford backs allowed the centre to break through and score under the posts. With the worst possible start Dereham knew they had to get points on the board in the first half and Derbyshire opened the account with a well struck penalty after 20 minutes. Belief started to seep into the side and Dereham started to make more of their chances. Jack Edwards picked up the ball on his own 22 from full back and skipped passed two cover tackles hugging the touchline to sprint for a terrific score which Derbyshire converted to give Dereham a 10-7 lead. 

John Sutton was forced to retire injured and Ben Harradine moved into the front row from flanker whilst Tom Edwards came into the back row to support Ponder and Annable. Jason Watcham and Chris Fish looked hard to stop with ball in hand, Morgan Gant went close to latching onto a cross field kick and the forwards looked comfortable in the set pieces, but they could do nothing to increase the score before half time. Without the advantage of the wind, territory in the second half would be much harder to come by and predictably Thetford dominated the early possession and retook the lead with a sweeping move to the right wing.  

Dane Canning and Ali Gibson were by now dominating the front row and provided a good platform for some progress back into Thetford’s half. Annable picked up from No8 and held up the ball well, drawing two defenders then releasing the half backs. The attack looked to have been halted but Derbyshire played an inside pass to Jack Edwards who stepped the defence to go over for his second score and Dereham nudged into a fragile three point lead.