Slow start but big finish at Loughborough

Matlock arrived at Loughborough in confident mood. With the weather much improved from recent weeks the bright sunshine was deceiving as there was a cool breeze and greasy underfoot conditions. Matlock were able to field an almost unchanged side from the previous run out the only enforced change being Cooper back at No8 for the unavailable Shooter and Wagg coming in on the flank. Dan Hooton made a welcome return after injury joining Statham and Glover on the bench. Having finally decided which pitch to play on the game kicked off with the home side having the benefit of the wind and the slope. For the first half hour Matlock struggled to find any sort of rhythm and spent long periods pinned in their own half. In contrast the home side made a spirited start and found themselves with a deserved lead of 9-3 through three well taken penalty kicks with Young replying with one for Matlock. Eventually Matlock’s pack began to get the upper hand and Young began to find his touch with the boot to put them in the right parts of the field. The first try came on the half hour. The home side were penalised just inside their own half and Young pushed his kick into the Loughborough twenty two. A good catch and driving maul followed by a series of pick and drives resulted in good quick hands to the rampaging Richardson who crashed over to touch down. Young was narrowly wide with the conversion attempt. Matlock were now energised and continued to press the Loughborough line. Another strong passage of pick and drive play saw Matlock come close to scoring under the posts and the referee awarded a five metre scrum. A powerful surge from the scrum saw Cooper pick up and force his way over for the second try. Young added the extras. At the half time whistle Matlock were ahead 9-15.
A half time change saw Hooton come on in the centre and Hartley move to flyhalf replacing the injured James Young. The second half began with Matlock now having the advantage of the wind and the slope and they were soon camped in the opposition twenty two. It wasn’t long before the line was crossed again when a backs move saw Whittaker come in off the wing to glide through the gap untouched to score under the posts. Chris Young again added the extras. The bonus point try followed soon after. With the home side under pressure the referee awarded a penalty which Young pushed to the corner. The catch and drive over the line saw Taylor touch down. The conversion attempt was wide but the score was now 9-27 in Matlock’s favour. Whittaker was soon on the score sheet again when a kick ahead saw him scorch past his opposite number to win the race and touch down. Young converted superbly from wide out.
To the home side’s credit with the game already lost they continued to try and take the game to Matlock and forced their way in to the Matlock half but Matlock were now playing with great confidence and working the blind side sent Packard racing away from inside his own half to score. Young added the extras. This was followed soon after by another score for Packard. Loughborough were on the attack and looked to move the ball wide only to see Packard intercept and race away unopposed for the try. Young converted. With the final whistle approaching and with play in the Matlock half Matlock again worked the blind side. Young created space for Packard to race away again and some fine support play involving Hartley and Young eventually saw Young touch down in the corner for the final score of the match. The conversion attempt was wide and the referee blew the final whistle with the scoreline 9-53 in Matlock’s favour.
Man of the match deservedly went to Adam Twyford for a towering performance. Another bonus point win sees Matlock fifth in the table but with just 4 points currently separating the top five teams it promises to be an exciting and perhaps nail biting run in to the end of the season.
Next week sees a rearranged match away at Peterborough kick off 2.15pm