A Well Earned Bonus

Matlock entered this encounter on the back of a convincing victory hoping to build on a start which was promising but had yet to yield many points. Ilkeston also entered this encounter not only with four wins to date but a victory and clean sheet in the previous week’s game.
Matlock made three changes to last weeks team which saw Luke Croft, Dave Hartley and Tom Hooton all make the starting line-up.
Within the first five minutes Matlock, who had been guilty of giving away cheap penalties were awarded a penalty within range but opted to kick for the corner. The line-out was gathered well and a surge by the forwards was accompanied by four of the backs to cross the line and register the first 5 points which was claimed by James Young. The conversion attempt just sailed wide of the post.
On 15 minutes the travelling side conceded a penalty just outside their own 22meter line. Ilkeston opted to go for the corner but instead kicked the ball dead. Two minutes later saw another Ilkeston penalty in the same place and was again kicked dead. A third penalty was awarded to the home team who elected to go for posts. The attempt hit the upright and quick thinking from Adam Twyford saw the ball collected and cleared by the burley figure.
Ilkeston were now posing more of an attacking threat and used their significant size advantage to take the contact, draw in the defence whilst still having the wherewithal to off load. This was greeted by the gritty defence of Matlock and typified by George “The Meatball” Stevenson who made two crunching tackles in quick succession.
An Ilkeston kick through to Tom Hooton at full-back was gathered and after beating the oncoming traffic he returned the kick only to be tackled late. The referee waved play on and a tackle adjudged to be high by James Young resulted in assertiveness incorrectly stamped and yellow being shown.
With 35 minutes gone the sustained pressure and the extra man resulted in another penalty being kicked to the corner. The line out was caught and driven over the try-line to bring the scores to 5 – 5 at half time.
The Home team came out firing after half time and a series of interpasses saw Ilkeston cross the try-line only to spill the ball and gift Matlock the scrum. The boot of Chris Young cleared the ball up to halfway and an Ilkeston attack saw Matlock turn the ball over and kick to the corner for Ilkeston to clear. The line out to Matlock was gathered, mauled and on 50minutes Mike Brookes grounded the ball to take the score to 5-10 in the visitors favour.
An exchange of more than just differing views resulted in the young and muscular Tim Taylor and his opposite number being sent from the field of play after 60minutes. With Ilkeston mounting a number of spirited attacks the Matlock defence was penetrated through a missed tackle and good support play saw the fourth try of the match and the first conversion to take the score to 12-10.
Matlock refused to relent with the ball being shipped out wide to the powerhouse Rich Taylor who left a trail of defenders in his wake and was only stopped by a last ditch effort from the Ilkeston full back. With significant ground made Chris Young positioned himself in the pocket to fire home a 40yard drop goal. With 5 minutes remaining Ilkeston were awarded a penalty and opted for the posts. The attempt was short and duly dismissed by Tom Hooton but appeared to have been touched by the Ilkeston number 8. The linesman and referee, unsure which way to award the lineout let the Ilkeston hooker take the ball. From this Ilkeston mounted an attack broke two tackles and took the score to 17-13.
With only seconds left Ilkeston were awarded a penalty under the posts. The kicker true to form missed and left the final score at 17-13.