Market Rasen U14 12pts Matlock U14 39pts

Market Rasen U14 12pts Matlock U14 39pts

After a journey of Tolkien proportions across lands covered in morning mist Matlock found it much easier to succeed than the Hobbits and companions had. Somehow though Rasen had managed to find a small slope on which to build their pitch and created a breeze to breathe uphill. What dark magic was this on such a flat plain. Would this sorcerous skill be borne in their players too?

The answer to this question was soon found to be not in a rugby nature at least as the first four scrums were hooked against the head by Matlock. Matlock moved the ball to the backs on each occasion but failed to make much headway as the defence managed to drag them down or more by poor handling bringing them back for another scrum. The first 5 minutes were a little like groundhog day. Matlock went through a few moves but didn’t really alight the crowd though some good breaks were made but disappointingly not finished off. Matlock’s forwards were it seemed able to win the ball at will and became the main source of attack. The good old fashioned straight forward way but it was Burns who popped up in space out wide and showed his usual pace and power to take the ball round the defence and under the posts. The game carried on the same vain with Matlock in control but being their own worst enemies. However after a good line out win and drive Matlock won three quick ruck balls and with the ball then being popped to Stephenson to crash over the line as though he was collapsing onto his bed weary from a hard day at school. At this early stage a couple of changes were made in front row personnel to give all players an opportunity to show how they could perform. This didn’t seem to alter the style of the match and soon Matlock scored a third try. It was touched down by the hard working and tireless Hamilton Cody. Despite more changes Matlock managed a fourth try by budding centre Wright who barrelled over the line with yet another interception clutched from between our half backs. Clarke had added a conversion making it 22-nil at half time.

For the second half Matlock would play with a mainly new back line as 4 changes were made. This didn’t seem to affect the attacking much but the defence was less impressive and this gave Rasen some hope as kicks were dropped and one or two tackles missed. However this was a good opportunity to get some good game time. Also the forwards were now somehow set up with a hooker in all three rows of the scrum. Again good experience, maybe. Matlock forwards were still looking too strong and the backs more of a match now. Rasen however from one of their speculative kicks found Norman Wisdom at full back who no matter how hard he tried couldn’t get to grips with ball in time before the Rasen flyhalf arrived to hack the ball on and eventually just beat Wallis to the touchdown. This score brought great cheer to the home crowd. This perhaps shook Matlock into a bit of a response and they were to score 3 more tries. One a mazy run by Hatton which I think started in his own half and involved beating all the Rasen players twice and two by Wright. One from another interception and the last from a quickly taken tap penalty. I hope he shows and keeps his enthusiasm up like this when the going is tougher.Simpson managed to kick one of the conversions into the breeze. To end the game Matlock despite repelling a 5 metre penalty with determination allowed a breaking player to run too far and then fail to tackle him as a score was made between the posts to make it 39-12 in Matlock’s favour.

In summary I’d say that as a coach I didn’t get much out of the game if anything more bad than good as it was difficult to judge performance. However I do know that a lot of work needs to be done in both defence and attack by everyone. That said well done boys a good win. The more positive side came from some of the performances of the replacements who in general gave their all and hopefully built up some good experience.