Matlock move up to second in league

Matlock welcomed Ashfield to a rain sodden Cromford Meadows. The home side once again were unable to field an unchanged side with no fewer than 8 changes to the match day squad. In the absence of both Conor Loughnane and Ash Statham there were starts for Curtis Bolam and Finlay Mosley with Tom Stokes on the bench. With Mike Emmerson unavailable Tim Taylor came back into the second row and the returning Chris Atkinson on the bench. In the backs James Marsden, Andrew Eastwood and Tom Lawrence were all unavailable making way for the returns of Tom Morton, James Young and Ben Neville. Luke Howard replaced Mark Thornley on the wing and Dan Hooton returned on the bench for his first game since picking up a long term injury in April. These changes resulted in the back line being the most “experienced” line up turned out this season.
Following the continuing inclement weather of recent weeks the main pitch was very heavy and the clubhouse pitch was deemed the best playing surface for this game. Even so playing conditions were still heavy underfoot.
The game kicked off and Matlock immediately laid down the gauntlet with an incisive attack which culminated in a great team try which saw James Fairclough and Alex Powell showing some slick inter-passing before Fairclough crossed for the first score. Tom Morton added the extras 7-0.
From the restart Matlock knocked on giving Ashfield the opportunity to attack. Matlock were penalised on half way and Ashfield kicked to the Matlock 22. Ashfield threw in to the line but Rory Cookman rose high to steal the ball and a confident Matlock quickly moved the ball wide to Luke Howard who set off on a jinking 70 metre run for a superb individual score touching down under the posts, Morton again adding the extras for a 14-0 lead with only 5 minutes gone. At this point Ashfield had no answer to Matlock’s interplay and two further scores came in fairly quick succession coming from James Harrod after another scintillating break from Luke Howard and from Mike Allen following some excellent approach play with an assist from Tom Cruttenden. In between these scores Ben Neville left the field for an HIA allowing an eager Dan Hooton to join the fray. Barely fifteen minutes gone and Matlock had secured the bonus point try and a 24-0 lead. The game then entered a baron period which was dominated by a number of handling errors from both sides before Matlock eventually regained some control over proceedings with another fine score on 35 minutes which came from an attacking scrum on the Ashfield 22 with Simon Wright picking from the base before feeding James Young who in turn found Alex Powell in support who drew his man before sending Mike Allen over in the corner. Half time came with score at 29-0
The second half began as the first with a very quick score for the home side. Matlock had an attacking scrum 5 metres from the Ashfield line, James Young attacked from the base before finding Simon Wright in support who offloaded in the tackle to Alex Powell for the short run over the line to touch down, 34-0. The onslaught continued with Ashfield struggling to break out from their own half, and Matlock extended their lead with Alex Powell’s second try on 50 minutes following a series of pick and goes before the ball was flung out to the backs where Powell dummied and dotted down under the posts. Powell adding the extras himself, 41-0. Matlock continued to pile on the pressure and on 56 minutes were rewarded with their eighth try. Awarded a penalty just inside the Ashfield half Matlock kicked to the corner where a rehearsed lineout move saw Tim Taylor peel round the front of the line to touch down in the corner 46-0. From this point the game unfortunately began to break down becoming untidy with both sides being guilty of too many handling errors. Ashfield to their credit never gave up the fight but failed in their efforts to cause the home side any real problems and Matlock will be frustrated that a number of other real scoring opportunities were not finished off as they would normally expect to.
Full time 46-0

With Dronfield’s game at Loughborough being postponed Matlock now sit second in the league. Their next game on 4th January is away to Dronfield which could prove to be a pivotal game.

Team: J Statham, C Bolam, F Mosley, J Harrod, T Taylor, T Cruttenden, R Cookman, S Wright, T Morton, J Young, L Howard, B Neville, J Fairclough, M Allen, A Powell
Bench: T Stokes, C Atkinson, D Hooton