Demolition Derby!

The local derby turned into a seven try rout, with Didsbury Toc H continuing their fine form with an excellent 55-0 victory.

Toc H had to shuffle their squad with centre Chivers and flyhalf Wilkinson missing through injury, but they welcomed back Gaz Oakley at scrum half and the versatile Andy Popoola moved to centre.

Didsbury began the match in an uncompromising manner, turning ball over and forcing Bedians to defend. It was clear from the start that the Toc H scrum was more than a match for the home side’s, and the pressure soon told when Didsbury were awarded an attacking scrum. The first phase went close to going over the tryline, but the pack kept their patience and after a couple of phases Shaun Walker crashed over for the opening try. Pete Davies adding the conversion. Didsbury now looked to spread the ball wide, but a loose pass was gathered by Bedians, and it looked like a certain try under the posts. However they hadn’t counted on Chris Harley chasing back from the left wing, and he put in an outstanding tackle to save the try and dislodging the ball. With only ten minutes gone that was Bedians first and last chance of the match. Dave Hoare, who has been in devastating form of late, was causing havoc down the right flank by continually beating his opposite number. It was from one fine break that Hoare went over for Didsbury’s second. Davies added the conversion and soon followed it up with a penalty to give Didsbury a 17-0 lead. Euan Wilder added a penalty to extend Didsbury’s lead further. Didsbury’s pack was gaining ground through midfield creating quick ball and space out wide. Harley scored a well worked try to give the visitors a 27-0 halftime lead.

Didsbury were in no mood to rest on their laurels, and pushed on in the second half. Every player was enjoying the open space to run in, with the back three of Harley, Hoare and Davies tearing the home defence to shreads. Further tries were added by Shaun Walker, Andy Swann, Andy Popoola and skipper Mike Hyde. One memorable moment of the half was with Didsbury down two men in the pack, due to two sin-binnings, they managed to take a scrum against the head. Its not every week you see six players take a scrum against the head when they are up against eight. As the game neared the end it looked like a well deserved try was on the cards for Dylan Williams, only for him to drop the ball with the no defenders between him and the tryline. The final score of 55-0 was a fair reflection of the match and Didsbury will look to continue their form to keep the pressure on the top two sides in league, Furness and Eccles. If either side slips up Didsbury will be hot on their heels. Every member of the Didsbury squad can take a lot of the plaudits for Saturday’s result, from the excellent scrummaging of the McDonough, Hyde, Walker front row to the devastating line breaks by the back three.

Next Saturday Didsbury welcome Birchfield to Ford Lane, 3pm kick off.