Colts
Matches
Sat 07 Mar 2020
NLD colts festival @ Nottingham Rugby
09:00
Matlock (Baileans) Rugby Club
Colts
Matlock Colts win NLD festival at Nottingham Rugby

Matlock Colts win NLD festival at Nottingham Rugby

Steve Christian10 Mar 2020 - 15:04
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Matlock Colts win NLD festival at Nottingham Rugby

Matlock were drawn in a pool including three local rivals of Ashbourne, Derby and Ilkeston. There were games against each other pool team following which the pool winners advanced to the cup final.
With a first game kick-off time programmed for 1210, a rescheduled forty minute earlier kick-off time put pressure on the Matlock team, as there were five players who were late arrivals. This meant the game started with some Matlock players out of position. It was clear from the start that Ashbourne had come to win and with their large percentage possession the Matlock teams defence was put to the test. Matlock held back the tide of attack for the first half, which finished nil - nil. Ashbourne were able to change much of their team for the second half as they had a large playing squad, but Matlock were able to field a complete team playing in position for the second half with the arrival of two fresh players. Again, Matlock were required to defend well to keep Ashbourne out, with limited possession giving only one try scoring opportunity for Matlock, which was disallowed due to the referee being unsighted and unable to confirm the grounding of the ball. It was a credit to the work rate of the Matlock players in defence to finish the game after two seven minute halves with a score line of Matlock Colts 0 – 0 Ashbourne Colts.
With a 50 minute break until the next game, the Matlock team regrouped with all players having now arrived, warming up more effectively and reshaping the starting line-up for the next game versus Derby.
Matlock started the Derby game with a few fresh legs and with players in their strongest positions, enjoying a better success at the ruck maintaining possession and going forward despite some good physicality from the Derby pack. One dominant Matlock forward drive ended with a pick and go from Jack Berry, straight through the middle of the ruck, running in fifty metres and breaking the tackle of the opposition scrum half and winger to score the opening try for Matlock. Derby got a try back before the break with a momentary lack of concentration in the Matlock defence. The second seven minute half saw a solid defensive effort from both teams, restricting the scoring opportunities to one late Matlock attack, finally wearing the Derby players down to allow Danny McCrea to score a trade mark weaving try through a broken field defence to give a final score of Matlock Colts 10 – 5 Derby Colts.
Matlock’s final game of the pool came twenty minutes later against Ilkeston. With some fresh legs Matlock’s work rate led to higher percentage of possession and Ilkeston were forced to defend for large parts of the game. Half time came too quickly to allow Matlock’s dominance to add to the score board but in the second half Ilkeston started to tire until much of the closing stages were played in the Ilkeston 22. Like buses the tries came together with a score for left winger Noah Berry Frith getting outside his opponent from the halfway line followed immediately from the kick off restart as Will Needham caught the short kick at full pace stepping two kick chasing opponents and heading into the Ilkeston 22 where he was finally tackled. Support arrived quickly from the Matlock pack and a series of pick and goes just right of the posts sucked in multiple back line defenders, narrowing the defence, allowing Matlock to go left with simple hands for Madison Peach at outside centre to score. Final score Matlock Colts 10 – 0 Ilkeston Colts
Matlock’s win over Ilkeston meant they had won the pool and advanced to the cup final versus West Bridgford, to be played on the Nottingham Rugby first team pitch. Matlock continued to maintain a professional attitude by warming up effectively for the final following an hour break.
The final proved to be everything expected with both teams working hard to gain an advantage. It was toe to toe with West Bridgford showing the earlier dominance with higher possession percentage but Matlock matching that with aggressive line speed and tackling. West Bridgford’s tactic to win in the forwards and go wide was constantly thwarted by the Matlock high work rate getting back into the defensive line and dominant tackles. The defensive pressure was telling as West Bridgford’s attack was forced again and again into handling errors, giving possession back to Matlock. The few occasions West Bridgford managed to get some go forward through the middle of the back line were stopped by a rampant back row defence with Will Needham putting in some great covering tackles. The ten minute first half was soon over with no score. Matlock emptied the subs bench for the second half resting some weary legs. The second half saw Matlock gain dominance, their work rate and fresh legs starting to shine. But West Bridgford stuck at their defensive work and Matlock were unable to find the formula to break the line, which meant that the final finished, after 20 hard fought minutes by both teams, at nil – nil.
The competition rules dictated a final five minute playing period, which would be sudden death or in other words any try being deemed the golden score winning the competition. The message from the Matlock coaching team was that we were the dominant team and needed to keep our work rate high and any kick chase good to keep possession. Some rested forwards were reintroduced to freshen up the physical effort.
The final period kicked off with West Bridgford receiving and their pack working hard to get them up to halfway. Matlock forwards turned over possession at the ruck to give them an opportunity to go wide. The defensive line pressure from West Bridgford forced an error from Matlock, as a lose pass went behind the attacking Matlock centres. In a twist the ball bounced kindly into the path of Matlock left winger Noah Berry Frith, who kicked the ball forward into the West Bridgford 22. The West Bridgford full back and winger were forced into a chase back and the Matlock back line advanced to tackle and trap them in the 22. Work rate from Matlock was now superb as they lined up defensively inside the West Bridgford 22, putting maximum pressure on the counter ruck. The hurried pass form the ruck base forced the West Bridgford fly half to hack the ball sideways into the waiting arms of the Matlock mid-field defence and it was Ben Poyser who drove forward with his usual power to drag in four or five defenders. The ensuing ruck was resourced well by Matlock, the ball recycled quickly and scrum half Callam Massey fed Sam Ball at fly half who spotted the wide space, miss passing both centres into the arms of right winger Danny McCrea whose superior pace skinned with ease the covering back line defence to score in the corner. The golden score secured match and tournament victory and McCrea was swamped by team mates in the goal area as Matlock celebrated.
1. 11:30 Matlock Colts 0 – 0 Ashbourne Colts
2. 12:10 Matlock Colts 10 - 5 Derby Colts
3. 12:50 Matlock Colts 10 - 0 Ilkeston Colts
4. 15:30 (cup final) Matlock Colts 5 - 0 West Bridgford Colts (after extra time – golden try)

Match details

Match date

Sat 07 Mar 2020

Kickoff

09:00
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