Second Half Surge Too Late For Matlock

Matlock’s first home game of this season’s league campaign started against a newly promoted Coalville. An idyllic setting and perfect conditions for running rugby, would soon be forgotten as a changed Matlock squandered opportunities to take advantage of the new RFU bonus points scoring system whereas their counterparts took full advantage. This season a team can score additional points for losing by less than 7 points and by scoring four tries - Matlock unfortunately missed out on both.
Changes to the starting line-up due to availability and injury included the half back pairing of James Bance and Tom Morton, Dan Hooton in the centres along with Tim Taylor in the forwards.
The first half started in complete contrast to last week’s triumphant encounter, with the forwards offside at the first kick of the game due to a lack of concentration as opposed to any noticeable zeal for the game. The ensuing scrum produced a blindside break by Coalville resulting in a try which was duly converted. Matlock however struck back with a passage of good handling leading to a penalty which Tom Morton converted. Coalville took the restart and after continued pressure turned the ball over and parted the Matlock defence to score under the posts and then add the conversion. This destructive first quarter was made worse for the bewildered Matlock by another try for Coalville from a break by the scrum half. A further 5 points meant that Matlock were trailing 3 – 19 after 20 minutes of play.
Matlock began to edge their way into the game through a creative chip through by James Bance for Alex Powell. A number of infringements by Coalville led to a penalty which was kicked to the corner. The lineout ball was secured well and delivered to the backs for a bellowing Ben Neville run resulting in all 15 men of Matlock binding on to push over for a try on 25 minutes – the conversion was missed. The remainder of the half saw Matlock fumble their own opportunities and create openings for Coalvile. One of which the apparently Teflon coated inside centre of Coalville parting the middle of the field to off-load and resulted to the last score of the first half. Be it not for the work rate of Jonny Bunting and the scything tackling of Alex Powell in the latter minutes of the first half the score-line could have been far worse than 8 – 24.
Half time changes saw Tom Morton and James Nobel make way for the cannonball build of Nick Coombes and veteran winger Chris Buckley.
The home team started the second half with far more vigour than the first with a strong run by James Shooter unfortunately resulting in injury, and his substitution for the robust Ashley Statham. A good forward counter ruck saw the Matlock pack turn the ball over in the opposition 22 meters only to relinquish the ball cheaply and find themselves in their own 22 meters moments later through a series of missed tackles. The Matlock defence again rallied and after a purposeful forward counter ruck turned the ball over. A suspect chip through by Chris Buckley was made good by the chase followed by numerous forward bursts the Coalville try line was breached but the try disallowed sited by the referee as a double movement. A resilient Matlock found themselves again in possession near the line opting to keep the ball tight with the final drive for the line being turned over by Coalville who cleared into touch.
The next 10 minutes saw Matlock mount numerous attacks with a try coming from another maul by the masses. With the conversion missed the score was 13 -24 with 70 minutes remaining.
From the restart Matlock gathered and mauled with purpose, passed through the hands and kicked through to the Coalville 22 meter line. With the pressure mounting, Coalville found themselves a man down with their scrum half sin –binned. Matlock opted for a scrum and the young and muscular Tim Taylor charged to the line to take the score to 18 -27. The conversion would have taken Matlock to bonus point territory but just sailed wide of the posts.
Matlock did well to mount a spirited fight back and show that even after going three tries down early on and playing below average by their standards, they have the ability and personnel to trouble any team in the division.

Report By Jack Wagg