Matlock welcomed old rivals Newark to Cromford Meadows. Following the previous week’s disappointing result Matlock had worked hard on the training pitch and were clearly fired up for this league clash against a side who defeated them twice last season. A couple of squad changes saw Mike Allen come into the centre for the injured Ben Neville. Alex Powell started on the wing and young Ollie Beesley came onto the bench alongside James Harrod and Josh Dixey.
Matlock began the game playing with great pace and intensity putting Newark immediately on the back foot. With only three minutes gone Matlock created a clear scoring opportunity when Young made great break but his was too high to the supporting Hooton. However they didn’t have to wait long for the next opportunity. About 40 yards out Young went to the blind and through a long miss pass to Hooton who made good ground before Newark scrambled the ball out. Matlock took a quick line out and the ball was quickly moved to Powell on the overlap to race over in the corner. Morton was successful with the conversion from out wide for a 7-0 lead. Matlock maintained the intensity looking threatening every time in attack and allowing Newark no ground with the defence solid and Fairclough’s huge boot keeping Matlock on the front foot. Young was controlling the game superbly and on 10 minutes more good work conjured up Matlock’s second score. Young again broke blind finding Atkinson in support who showed great timing on the pass to send Tom Wright scampering over in the corner. Morton’s conversion attempt fell short, 12-0. At this point of the game Newark seemed to have no answer to Matlock’s intensity. All the good work was finally rewarded on 17 minutes following some great work by the pack Young made another telling break and was stopped 5 metres out. Hooton in close support picked up and drove over for the try. Morton added the extras 19-0. The home side then fluffed two more try opportunities when Howard failed to hold Wright’s scoring pass and then Fairclough had a great run on the counter attack racing 60 metres down the wing only to me stopped by the last defender with Hooton in support screaming for the inside pass. Newark were awarded a penalty for the Matlock player holding on but failed to get much distance on the kick. Newark tried to play out and were themselves penalised for holding on. Morton’s penalty attempt was wide of the uprights. On the half hour Matlock scored the bonus point try. Matlock had a line out on the Newark 22, the drive was pulled down by the Newark pack but the referee played good advantage as Matlock still had the ball. The ball was passed to Dan Hooton picking a good line and then quickly recycled to Young whose superb long miss pass found Powell again on the overlap to race over in the corner and cleverly evade the defender over the line to go round under the posts. Morton added the conversion 26-0. As Matlock then seemed to relax slightly before half time Newark began to gain a little more territory and possession. Young was forced to leave the field having picked up a dead leg, Fairclough moved to fly half and Dixey came on at full back. The defence was holding fast until in first half injury time Cruttenden was very unlucky to pick up a yellow card for an adjudged deliberate knock on. The quick tap penalty caught Matlock on the hop and Newark touched down in the corner. The conversion was missed 26-5.
The second half began with Matlock still a man down in the scrum and this gave Newark some success at scrum time but still they were struggling to trouble the Matlock defence, even when they did create a good overlap the winger was despatched into touch by Dixey’s superbly timed tackle. Back to full strength Matlock again ramped up the intensity. A powerful run by Mike Allen saw him burst through the line and Newark scrambled the ball into touch. The quick thinking Simon Wright took a quick throw which saw Fairclough side step his way over the line. Morton added the conversion 33-5. Matlock were then guilty of relaxing and began giving away unnecessary penalties giving Newark better field position. Newark upped their intensity using their big runners to good effect but Matlock looked to have defended well when Ollie Beesley looked to have made a good turnover but was then pulled down by a Newark player and then penalised for playing the ball on the ground. The yellow card seemed a little harsh. Again Newark took a quick tap to score in the corner. 33-10
A rather aggrieved Matlock hit straight back through Mike Allen who burst through the Newark defence after good ball off a line out. Morton again added the extras 40-10. Newark hit back again with another unconverted try before Matlock ended the game with their seventh try of the match when Atkinson touched down following a period of intense pressure on the Newark line. Morton again converted making the final score 47-15.
This was a great team performance, setting the standard for the challenges to follow. Again the younger players all put in good performances and will continue to grow in confidence with each game.
Congratulations to Tom Cruttenden on his tie game.
Team: Wright T, Loughnane C, Statham A, Taylor T, Atkinson C, Cruttenden T, Statham J, Wright S, Morton T, Young J, Howard L, Allen M, Hooton D, Powell A, Fairclough J
Bench: Harrod J, Beesley O, Dixey J

Next week Matlock play at home to Leek in the Intermediate Cup first round. Check website for kick off time. Come along and support the blue boys