Matlock came out of the blocks all guns blazing as they recorded their eight successive bonus point victory in a row away at Market Rasen. Captain Ben Neville returned to side following a number of weeks on the side line.
The first score came early as quick ball on the half way line saw Matlock suck in the home defence to create an overlap for lightning winger Henri Packard to dot down under the posts in the fourth minute. An easy conversion for stand-off Chris Young was the start of an exemplary kicking display, which would punish Rasen time and again throughout the game. Rasen replied quickly with a penalty, but Young’s metronomic boot cancelled this out before Rasen fluffed the restart with a kick failing to travel the requisite ten metres. Matlock opted to play on to take advantage of the error with their progress only checked when Rasen conceded another penalty. Young slotted the kick with consummate ease as the blue boys accumulate points at every opportunity. Matlock then gave the red and greens a stark lesson in the virtue of quick ball to rapidly switch the point of attack to move the ball wide to the dangerous Packard. The young whippet still had a lot to do, but despite his chip being deflected he re-gathered the ball to draw the last to enable the ageing Hooton in for a try which Young converted. Rasen responded with a penalty kick following some sterling defence from the Matlock pack as Rasen attempted to maul the ball over the line. A spill by the Rasen back line led to Packard to hack the ball through with his explosive pace easily winning the race for the touchdown. Young notched another successful conversion before the gnarly Rasen pack engine began to show signs of life. The home forwards worked their way deep into Matlock territory forcing the visitors to concede a five metre scrum. A solid set piece enabled their number eight to pick and drive for the line and the subsequent phase saw the Rasen prop reaching over the line for a score. Matlock retaliated with another Young penalty and moments later the Matlock man had his first failure. With the half drawing to a close Matlock flanker Nicholas Coombes picked up a yellow card for a lazy tackle to leave Matlock down a man, but still with a healthy 30 – 11 lead.
The half started badly for Matlock as the impeccable Young mishit the kick off straight into touch allowing Rasen to set up good field position. Encouraged by this early foray, Rasen continued to attack and a determined run combined with some slack tackling saw the flanker burst through the Matlock defence to crash over under the posts. Young got back in the groove with three more successful penalty kicks as Rasen attempted to slow the ball down in fear of the Matlock backs. Matlock were not playing particularly well in the second half and the resourceful Young recognised the need for a four try in order to secure a bonus point score. Young unleashed an audacious long cross field pass from behind his own goal line which was received by Powell who set off at pace ably supported by Packard. With Rasen defenders floundering in their slipstream the two Matlock flyers exchanged passes to evade the last line of defence before the veteran Powell finished a truly superb length of the field try. Young then strode up to add the conversion to complete the score created by his own vision. Matlock almost scored again in similar circumstances as good hands from Hartley allowed for another long run from Packard which was unfairly ruled out as the winger was adjudged to have knocked on over the line following a chip and chase. Rasen had the final say in the game as persistent but questionable penalties from Matlock finally resulted in the Rasen prop crashing over in the corner.
If Matlock retained the intensity of the first 20 minutes the score line would undoubtedly have been significantly higher however fair play to Market Rasen who were strong in the forwards and defended with great pride in the backs. Man of the Match went to Henri Packard for his blistering runs which Rasen could not defend. The next four fixtures are against the top sides in the division and Matlock will need to be at their best for longer periods if this impressive winning run is to continue. Next Saturday, third place Bedford Athletic are the visitors to Cromford Meadows with a 2.15pm kick off.