Two late scores brings hard earned victory at Kesteven

Matlock travelled to Kesteven with a number of changes. With Charlie Jackson ruled out for at least a couple of games due to his concussion picked up last week, John Statham switched to hooker giving a start on the back row for Rory Cookman. In the backs Ben Neville was ruled out with injury and the intention was also to give his centre partner Dan Hooton a well-earned rest. A reshuffle saw Mike Allen move to inside centre, Marcus Bolam start at outside with Harry Hunt on the wing. Alex Powell returned at full back. In the final analysis with a number of other players being unavailable Dan Hooton stepped up to fill the vacant space on the bench alongside Tom Stokes and Ollie Beesley. A full strength Matlock had enjoyed a runaway victory in the earlier home fixture against a Kesteven side ravaged by injuries so a much tougher game was expected.
The game kicked off and the home side started brightly. Carrying well and running good lines they took the game to the visitors and in the early exchanges were aided by some slack first up tackles. As a result of this Matlock were on the back foot and a couple of early penalties gave Kesteven a good attacking position. With only six minutes gone John Statham was shown a yellow card for knocking the ball out of the scrum halves hand. The home side made use of the numerical advantage to create space to score an unconverted try for 5-0 lead. Moments later Matlock lost Luke Howard after he sustained a nasty cut following some scrambled defence just managed to keep Kesteven out for a second score. Hooton found his intended rest cut very short as he joined the fray initially as blood substitute only to then remain involved for the next 70 minutes. Matlock began to put some phases together and on 21 minutes took the lead with a converted try when John Statham crossed under the posts after a period of concerted pressure. Fairclough added the conversion 5-7. Matlock then suffered further misfortune. Slack tackling again allowed Kesteven to break away down the blind and an unfortunate collision between Morton and Powell allowed the Kesteven player a simple run into the corner for a 10-7 lead. Powell was forced to leave the field with a knee injury and a patched up Howard returned to the fray. The backs reorganised with Hooton moving to his normal centre position and Marcus Bolam dropping to full back. Ashley Statham also left the field with a hand injury to be replaced by Tom Stokes. Half time 10-7
The second half continued to be a tight affair and something of an arm wrestle with territory and possession fairly even throughout. Howard left the field gain to have his dressing attended to and Ollie Beesley came onto the wing and Ash Statham then rejoined the fray to add his power and experience to the scrummage. Penalties were exchanged taking the score line to 13-10 and then on 68 minutes after a couple of penalty decisions against the visitors Kesteven had an attacking scrum near the Matlock line and were awarded a penalty try despite their own hooker popping out under the pressure of the Matlock drive, 20-10. A wounded and clearly frustrated Matlock reacted superbly and began to play some of their best rugby. On 74 minutes Kesteven transgressed in midfield and Matlock kicked to the corner. The driving lineout was halted and Matlock went into pick and drive mode. Kesteven transgressed again and were given a yellow card. Matlock chose to scrummage and drove the scrum back over the line for Simon Wright to touch down. Fairclough added the conversion 20-17. Kesteven realised they had to just play out the remaining time to earn some valuable points and when they created space out wide only a superb cover tackle by Marcus Bolam prevented a certain score. Matlock then delivered the killer blow. From a scrum some twenty metres inside their own half Morton made a rare but telling break from the base before finding Cruttenden in support who carried the ball to the Kesteven 22 before drawing the last man and passing to Fairclough who finished off the move by diving over in the corner. The conversion attempt was wide but Matlock had wrestled back a narrow lead 22-20. With very little time remaining a desolate Kesteven tried to conjure up a final piece of magic but the ball went to ground and Matlock gathered the loose ball and it was the experienced Hooton who got his hands on it eventually to shepherd it off the field and the referee, who had had an excellent game, blew for no side.
This was a gritty, determined and patient performance against a very physical Kesteven side. Cookman, Bolam, Hunt, Stokes and Beesley all equipped themselves admirably throughout. Matlock now have a well-earned rest with no 1st XV game next week. Their next game will be under lights on Wednesday 22nd March when they entertain Glossop in the Derbyshire Cup semi-final, kick off 7.30pm. This will be followed on the Saturday by another home fixture against Loughborough kick off 3.00pm.
Team: Wright T, Willingham-Statham J, Statham A, Atkinson C, Taylor T, Cruttenden T, Cookman R, Wright S, Morton T, Fairclough J, Howard L, Allen M, Bolam M, Hunt H, Powell A.
Bench: Stokes T, Beesley O, Hooton D