Matlock RUFC Colts 19 Grimsby RUFC Colts 26

All of the Grimsby players put in a massive performance to beat a very good Matlock team who had already beaten the Blues twice this season. The Grimsby back three of flankers Sam Fleming, Huw Cowper and No.8 Ash Rendall-Tyrrell were a constant threat together with the industrious half back pairing of scrum half Evan Picking and fly half Lewis Dyson making quick ball for the Grimsby backs. Centres Lewis Rothenburg and Brad Treacher were too powerful for the Matlock backs and with full back Brad Watson making good use of the boot often caused problems for Matlock with pacey wingers Kyle Sykes and U17 James Gordon quick in pursuit. Grimsby opened the score after seven minutes when good work from prop Luke Munro in recycling the ball allowed Picking to send a great pass down the back line with the ball going through all of the backs hands to Rothenburg who cut back inside to score under the posts. Watson added the conversion. Matlock levelled the score ten minutes later when their winger broke free and sprinted down the wing. For the remainder of the half the match was evenly fought with Grimsby at a disadvantage finding themselves down to 14 men when hooker Conor Simcock was yellow carded for repeatable offside, but Grimsby defended resolutely with big tackles from second row Gareth Roberts, Rendall-Tyrrell, Cowper and Fleming. Immediately after the break with Simcock back on the pitch Grimsby were straight in Matlock’s faces and scored 90 seconds in. The Blues forced a Matlock knock on and from the resulting scrum Picking sent the ball out wide to Dyson who fed Rothenburg to score his second try. Three minutes later a long range kick from Watson put the ball out for a Matlock line out on their five metre line. From the Matlock line out Cowper rose the quickest and knocked the ball out of the grasp of his Matlock opponent. The loose ball was quickly intercepted by Fleming who dived over the line to score. Watson added both conversions. Matlock pulled a converted try back when a missed tackle allowed their centre to break away. Grimsby responded immediately with attacking runs from Fleming and Rendall-Tyrrell both recycling the ball well. Again Picking was quick to the ruck and sent the ball down the back line for Rothenburg to score his hat-trick. Matlock tried their hardest to get back in the game but fierce defending from Grimsby kept them out. Matlock found themselves down to 14 men when the Matlock hooker was yellow carded for a shoulder charge. With minutes to go Grimsby also found themselves back down to 14 men when scrum half Picking a constant nuisance to Matlock was yellow carded for offside. From the penalty Matlock pegged Grimsby in their 22 and eventually scored but Grimsby held on to earn a well-deserved victory and a place in the final, their second in successive seasons. Grimsby will now play Paviors in the final on 28th April at Chesterfield.
Team: Roberts L., Simcock, Munro, Vankampen, Roberts G., Fleming, Cowper, Rendall-Tyrrell; Picking, Dyson, Sykes Rothenburg, Treacher, Gordon, Watson. Subs Abusabha, Ellis, Tasker, Clarke, Adams, Hudson.