Matlock Under 15s 52 - 12 Chesterfield Unders 15s

After two below par performances, Matlock had the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways with a home fixture against Chesterfield - a fixture that had traditionally delivered evenly balanced contests. That was not to be the case on this occasion.

A frantic opening period saw the sides evenly matched. A dangerous run down to the wing by the visitors was shepherded into touch by George Bowen. Danny McCrea picked the ball up in his own half and rode three tackles to gain good territory.

Jack Gothard, Callum Massey and Sam Ball passed the ball quickly and accurately, allowing the ball to come to Danny again to open the scoring with a run through the heart of the Chesterfield defence. Jack Gothard with the conversion. Matlock 7 - Chesterfield 0

2 minutes later, Sam repeated the feat with an unstoppable run again the try being converted by Jack. Matlock 14 - Chesterfield 0

The visitors, clearly stung, tried to force play, but the Matlock defence were equally up for the game and snuffed the threat out.

Callum, at scrum half, was having an excellent game, picking up the ball and passing it out with speed and accuracy.

Ned Tatler went in with low and hard tackles to disrupt a Chesterfield attack, but from the resulting play, Chesterfield were able to reduce the lead Matlock 14 - Chesterfield 5

The scrum were Matlock dominant today and the forward line we're getting to the breakdown well and with discipline. Fraser Bowman, Danny and Sam combined well to allow Callum to pick the ball up on the visitors' try line and score his first try for the club Matlock 19 - Chesterfield 5

Chesterfield again tried to get back into the game, but were unable to stop the Matlock momentum. Harry Wyld almost extended the lead and a knock on gave Chesterfield a scrum on their try line. But with attitude that typified their first half performance, Matlock wrestled possession back allowed allowing Sam to run the ball over in the corner. Matlock 24 - Chesterfield 5

A fabulous scrum and pass allowed George to run with pace down the line and almost turn the screw as the game entered half time.

The second half began with Chesterfield trying to force the issue and Matlock refusing to budge. The forward line were excellent in wresting and retaining possession and a refreshed line up including Luke Crapper and Renel Dopeno keeping the quality of play high.

Fraser picked the balk up in his own half and got the ball across to Renel who flew down the wing only being stopped yards from the try line. But after a turnover from the resulting Chesterfield line out, Fraser and Brandon Harrison combined to increase the hosts' tally Matlock 31 - Chesterfield 5

From the kick off, an unfortunate knock on gave Chesterfield a scrum and from the resulting play, brute force allowed Chesterfield to reduce the deficit Matlock 31 - Chesterfield 12

Almost instantly, Matlock hit back as Harry capitalised on holes in Chesterfield's defence to score and within the blink of an eye Danny added to the tally with a run that left the visitors trailing Matlock 45 - Chesterfield 12

A superb tackle by Ned stopped Chesterfield in their tracks. The visitors frustration started to grow and the game was halted by a 'hand bags at dawn' incident that resulted in 2 players being sent off.

Matlock refused to be dragged down, kept their discipline and shape and got rewards with a determined try from Olly Moloney after Callum and Renel had piled into the visitors Matlock 52 - Chesterfield 12

This game was won by a solid Matlock team who wanted to play rugby!!