1sr Round Cup Win

The first break in the league campaign saw Matlock playing in this cup competition for the first time in many years. With their opponents for the day having a difficult start to the season a confident Matlock took the opportunity to rest a few players and explore the depth of the squad. With Dan Hooton and Tom Morton rested from the backline, Ritchie started at scrum half, Fairclough, fresh from his travels, came in for his first start of the season at flyhalf and Harry Morton started in the centre. In the pack Boam made his first start of the season at hooker and Atkinson started in the second row in the absence of Robinson. A strong bench comprised of Richardson, Coombes and Tom Hooton.

Matlock started slowly and an early transgression saw Stafford gifted a simple penalty attempt to take the league. The home team were looking a little complacent and their play for once lacked composure, continuity and intensity. Eventually though green shoots of some exciting rugby began to emerge. Whittaker made a scything break from inside his own half, the ball was recycled and fed through hands to Buckley who raced down the wing and stepped past the last defender and touched down under the posts Whittaker added the extras. The second score soon followed after a fine break by Simon Wright put the visitors on the back foot. Play was taken to within ten metres of the Stafford line and Matt Goodall powered his way over. Whittaker again added the extras. At this point Matlock should have put the game beyond doubt but promising opportunities were wasted due to poor support play leaving players isolated following good breaks.
Half time 14-3

After strong words at half time Matlock started well in terms of possession and territory but there was still an air of complacency about the performance which took the edge of the attacking plays. Nick Coombes came off the bench and immediately brought some much needed go forward and Tom Hooton replaced Buckley on the wing. All Matlock had to show for their dominance of the third quarter were two Whittaker penalties.
Eventually the crowd was treated to the best passage of rugby for the day when the ball was worked from half way through several phases. Coombes made a strong carry and when he was eventually stopped Hooton took it on and used the his full reach to touch down.
With the score line 25-3 and the result safe Matlock took the foot off the pedal and Stafford took advantage of this complacency. A good attack seemed to have been thwarted by Hooton’s timely tackle but after a series of curious penalty decisions brought the visitors close to the Matlock line a quick tap saw the scrum half burrow over for a converted try as a last minute consolation.
The final whistle saw Matlock winners by a score of 25-10 but dissatisfied with an under par performance.
With plenty to work on at training Matlock can now look forward to next week’s home league game versus West Bridgford kick off 3.00pm.