Derby started well enough and missed a relatively simple penalty after 4 minutes. The Blues bounced back and Joe Newman opened the scoring with a well worked try on 10 minutes, which Joe Daniel converted.

Daniel then scored a try, conversion and penalty in the next 7 minutes as the Blues pace around the park proved too much for a jaded Derby side, still clearly feeling the effects of their mid-week win over Ilkeston.

With Simon Bartley finishing off another fine move and Daniel adding the extras, the home side were 24 points to the good after 35 minutes, and seemingly home and dry.

Derby then made it clear they weren't ready to lie down and on the stroke of half time scored a converted try of their own to leave the score 24-7 to the Blues at the break.

The visitors pressed hard from the re-start and closed the gap with a penalty on 41 minutes to show they meant business, but the Blues responded magnificently and Steve Fraher scored the first of his brace of tries on 46 minutes, which Daniel again converted and then Fraher scored his 2nd on 46 minutes to further extend the lead to 36-10.

Next to score was a returning Ryan James, who powered over from a 5-metre scrum, which Daniel this time converted, and then Derby bizarrely kicked a penalty to leave the score 43-13 with 15 minutes remaining.

James Taylor had the last word with an opportunist try in the final minute to see the Blues home by 48-13.

RAJ Man of the Match - The whole team.