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Sat 29 Aug 2015
1st XVAshbourne
52
7
Excellent team performance brings convincing cup win
Tony Hooton7 Sep 2015 - 14:07
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Matlock 52 v 7 Ashbourne
This Derbyshire Cup tie was also the last warm up game for Matlock before they embark on what promises to be a tough season ahead following their promotion back to the Midlands 1 East League.
It’s probably fair to say that both sides were missing a number of familiar faces. For the home side it was the pack that was affected by a number of absentees yet they were still able to field a promising line up. Rob Glover made a welcome return to the side in the front row alongside Matt Goodall and the fresh faced Ollie Bancroft. With Richardson now at Sheffield Tigers and Twyford, Robinson, Atkinson and the Wright brothers all unavailable Harry Stephenson found himself propelled into the second row alongside Tim Taylor. Coombes started at No 8 with Jack Wagg and Charlie Jackson on the flanks. Tom Morton and James Fairclough were at half back, with the experienced pairing of Ben Neville and Dan Hooton in the centre, and Alex Powell, Luke Howard and Josh Dixey formed a very pacy back three. Dave Ball, Pete Gailey and Tris Kawalek made up a strong bench.
Conditions were perfect for a fast flowing game and right from the kick off the home side immediately looked threatening as they began to play some attractive attacking rugby. With only 5 minutes gone Hooton called for the chip over the advancing Ashbourne midfield, Fairclough obliged and re-gathered from his own kick before popping a pass to Hooton who stepped through an attempted tackle and raced towards the line before unselfishly passing to Neville to finish off a fine score. Morton added the extras. From the restart Matlock continued to look threatening but an under pressure but hard working Ashbourne defence aided by some hesitant decision making in the Matlock ranks resulted in a scoreless ten minute period. The deadlock was eventually broken when Matlock again spun the ball quickly and Neville broke through the Ashbourne defence and won the race to touchdown with his second try in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Again Matlock continued to look threatening with ball in hand but a couple of transgressions at the breakdowns allowed Ashbourne their first real opportunity. Matlock appeared to be dealing comfortably with any potential threat but a misunderstanding in the ten-twelve channel presented Ashbourne with an easy run in for a converted try. Against the run of play Ashbourne suddenly found themselves in contention with the score at 12-7 with 20 minutes played. This gave Ashbourne’s self belief a boost but although they eagerly attempted to mount further attacks Matlock’s defence was impenetrable and when Matlock turned them over on the halfway line Coombes powered through a gap and fed Dixey in support. A high tackle threatened to thwart the attack but with the referee playing good advantage Matlock recycled and Neville forced his way to touch down on the line to complete his hat trick. Morton added the extras. This score seemed to energise the home side once more and Hooton was unlucky to have a try disallowed after good work again from Dixey and Powell who subsequently left the field with a dislocated finger. Kawalek joined the fray and was soon looking equally threatening on the ball. Half Time Score 19-7
Encouraging words from Hooton and Coombes and one or two words of wisdom from the coaching team saw a confident Matlock line up for the second half restart. Ball came into the second row with Stephenson moving to his more familiar back row role allowing the hardworking Wagg a well-earned rest. Morton’s restart was too long giving Ashbourne a scrum on halfway. Despite this Matlock soon regained possession and after a couple of phases which dragged the Ashbourne defence from side to side Coombes called for the ball on the blind side feeding Howard and then Glover who, looking certain to score in the corner, was pulled back by an illegal high tackle. Without hesitation the referee awarded a penalty try for the offence which Morton duly converted taking the score to 26-7. Two minutes later and straight from the kick off new skipper Hooton was in on the act finishing off another fine spell of handling and support play. Glover caught the restart and the ball was driven forward by Bancroft before being recycled to the backs where Fairclough made a fine break and Howard gave the final pass for Hooton to canter over unopposed. Morton again added the extras. Matlock made a further change with Gailey coming into the back row in place of Jackson. Matlock relaxed a little and a series of penalties gave Ashbourne a good attacking platform. Matlock were dealing well with the threat but then an over zealous Stephenson was shown the yellow card for being offside at the ruck in front of the posts. Fourteen man Matlock snuffed out the ensuing attack and then successfully cleared their lines. Matlock played out the remainder of the bin period an excellent handling and support play continued with Taylor, Goodall, Ball and Gailey providing good go forward ball. With sixty minutes gone Fairclough had to leave the field with a tight hamstring. Powell returned to the field at full back with Dixey moving to flyhalf. Coombes also left the field and Jackson rejoined the fray. Matlock applied continuous pressure on a tiring Ashbourne defence scoring three more tries two through the fleet footed Powell both again resulting from excellent teamwork and the final score went to Kawalek. Man of the match Howard, who had an excellent game throughout, had a hand in all three tries. The final whistle blew on an excellent performance by the home side and a final score of 52-7.
This was an encouraging performance with the pack performing admirably. Missing the usual lineout jumper’s Stephenson found his targets on most occasions and the scrums were solid with the slightly built Bancroft showing good strength at loose head. The squad are under no illusions that the coming season back in Midland’s 1 East will be a big test. Undoubtedly we will need the whole squad to be fit and available in order for us to compete to our best. The test begins on Saturday 5th September with the first league game away at Market Rasen & Louth, followed the week after by another away fixture at Wellingborough. Both games will kick off at 3.00pm.
It’s probably fair to say that both sides were missing a number of familiar faces. For the home side it was the pack that was affected by a number of absentees yet they were still able to field a promising line up. Rob Glover made a welcome return to the side in the front row alongside Matt Goodall and the fresh faced Ollie Bancroft. With Richardson now at Sheffield Tigers and Twyford, Robinson, Atkinson and the Wright brothers all unavailable Harry Stephenson found himself propelled into the second row alongside Tim Taylor. Coombes started at No 8 with Jack Wagg and Charlie Jackson on the flanks. Tom Morton and James Fairclough were at half back, with the experienced pairing of Ben Neville and Dan Hooton in the centre, and Alex Powell, Luke Howard and Josh Dixey formed a very pacy back three. Dave Ball, Pete Gailey and Tris Kawalek made up a strong bench.
Conditions were perfect for a fast flowing game and right from the kick off the home side immediately looked threatening as they began to play some attractive attacking rugby. With only 5 minutes gone Hooton called for the chip over the advancing Ashbourne midfield, Fairclough obliged and re-gathered from his own kick before popping a pass to Hooton who stepped through an attempted tackle and raced towards the line before unselfishly passing to Neville to finish off a fine score. Morton added the extras. From the restart Matlock continued to look threatening but an under pressure but hard working Ashbourne defence aided by some hesitant decision making in the Matlock ranks resulted in a scoreless ten minute period. The deadlock was eventually broken when Matlock again spun the ball quickly and Neville broke through the Ashbourne defence and won the race to touchdown with his second try in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Again Matlock continued to look threatening with ball in hand but a couple of transgressions at the breakdowns allowed Ashbourne their first real opportunity. Matlock appeared to be dealing comfortably with any potential threat but a misunderstanding in the ten-twelve channel presented Ashbourne with an easy run in for a converted try. Against the run of play Ashbourne suddenly found themselves in contention with the score at 12-7 with 20 minutes played. This gave Ashbourne’s self belief a boost but although they eagerly attempted to mount further attacks Matlock’s defence was impenetrable and when Matlock turned them over on the halfway line Coombes powered through a gap and fed Dixey in support. A high tackle threatened to thwart the attack but with the referee playing good advantage Matlock recycled and Neville forced his way to touch down on the line to complete his hat trick. Morton added the extras. This score seemed to energise the home side once more and Hooton was unlucky to have a try disallowed after good work again from Dixey and Powell who subsequently left the field with a dislocated finger. Kawalek joined the fray and was soon looking equally threatening on the ball. Half Time Score 19-7
Encouraging words from Hooton and Coombes and one or two words of wisdom from the coaching team saw a confident Matlock line up for the second half restart. Ball came into the second row with Stephenson moving to his more familiar back row role allowing the hardworking Wagg a well-earned rest. Morton’s restart was too long giving Ashbourne a scrum on halfway. Despite this Matlock soon regained possession and after a couple of phases which dragged the Ashbourne defence from side to side Coombes called for the ball on the blind side feeding Howard and then Glover who, looking certain to score in the corner, was pulled back by an illegal high tackle. Without hesitation the referee awarded a penalty try for the offence which Morton duly converted taking the score to 26-7. Two minutes later and straight from the kick off new skipper Hooton was in on the act finishing off another fine spell of handling and support play. Glover caught the restart and the ball was driven forward by Bancroft before being recycled to the backs where Fairclough made a fine break and Howard gave the final pass for Hooton to canter over unopposed. Morton again added the extras. Matlock made a further change with Gailey coming into the back row in place of Jackson. Matlock relaxed a little and a series of penalties gave Ashbourne a good attacking platform. Matlock were dealing well with the threat but then an over zealous Stephenson was shown the yellow card for being offside at the ruck in front of the posts. Fourteen man Matlock snuffed out the ensuing attack and then successfully cleared their lines. Matlock played out the remainder of the bin period an excellent handling and support play continued with Taylor, Goodall, Ball and Gailey providing good go forward ball. With sixty minutes gone Fairclough had to leave the field with a tight hamstring. Powell returned to the field at full back with Dixey moving to flyhalf. Coombes also left the field and Jackson rejoined the fray. Matlock applied continuous pressure on a tiring Ashbourne defence scoring three more tries two through the fleet footed Powell both again resulting from excellent teamwork and the final score went to Kawalek. Man of the match Howard, who had an excellent game throughout, had a hand in all three tries. The final whistle blew on an excellent performance by the home side and a final score of 52-7.
This was an encouraging performance with the pack performing admirably. Missing the usual lineout jumper’s Stephenson found his targets on most occasions and the scrums were solid with the slightly built Bancroft showing good strength at loose head. The squad are under no illusions that the coming season back in Midland’s 1 East will be a big test. Undoubtedly we will need the whole squad to be fit and available in order for us to compete to our best. The test begins on Saturday 5th September with the first league game away at Market Rasen & Louth, followed the week after by another away fixture at Wellingborough. Both games will kick off at 3.00pm.
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