Melbourne secure losing bonus point

Melbourne welcomed Matlock to Cockshut Lane for first time in years.

Lets get the important bit out the way - it was dry but very windy.

Melbourne had a few changes including Rob Foster (sporting a lovely beard) into scrum half with Devon injured. Smithy returned to start in the back row.

Matlock (like last week against Bosworth) were all about 2 stone a man heavier.

Matlock kicked off which went straight to touch. From the scrum, Melbourne won a penalty, nudged to the corner and then scored a try from Chris Purce off a catch and drive. Euan converted for a 7-0 lead after 2 mins. Easy? Well not really.

Matlock came back strongly and Melbourne conceded some penalties at the breakdown to see them pegged back in the corner. The Matlock 10 (not a bad player) scored and then created a try and after 22 minutes Melbourne were 7-12 down.

Melbourne started to come back into it but at 26 minutes the turning point came. At a ruck, virtually on the centre spot, a Matlock player was lying on the ball (again??) preventing a quick release. A rucking action went in, and handbags started. Lowery was gouged (a more unsavoury incident than a stamp but unfortunately not seen by the ref), and 2 Matlock players tried to take 2 Melbourne players head guards off them which is rather unsporting (and also a yellow card offence). The result of all this was a red card for Will Judge (not the player who rucked the ball) who was also unaware that the card was red until later.

The half continued and Melbourne narrowed the gap later on with a penalty before conceding a third Try (10-19 at Half time).

Playing with 15 men is tough enough against Matlock (relegated last year and unbeaten in the league this year) let alone 14 men.

Melbourne were immense in the second half. Matlock scored again to make it 26-10. Matlock also had a yellow card for a player taking Stringer out off the ball. From the penalty, Euan nudged it to the corner. The resulting catch and drive saw the tallest player on the pitch Gary Lakin burrow over. Euan converted for 17-26.

After 69 minutes a free flowing move from Melbourne saw Jack Pearce go over in the cornering, though only just after juggling the ball for what seemed an eternity. Euan again converted from the touch line to make the score 22-26.

Matlock kicked a late penalty to extend the lead. Melbourne pushed hard in the last 5 minutes and had 2 further line outs in the corner with Matlock defending them both this time.

Final Score 24-29 and a losing bonus point

The front row of Pop, Sparkesy, Coyney and Smithy were excellent - even taking a couple against the head.
Morris survived a game without needing hospital attention.
Chris Purce, Lowery, Smithy (who just about kept his ear on), Al and Sincy competed well.
Fossie a revelation at 9 (needs a shave though)
Euan and Fish interlinked well and the outside backs of Stringer, Karl (who should be writing this report), Joe (who managed not to get sent off), Jack and Theo (the reformed angry Geordie) all doing fine. Theo was solid at the back
Will Judge harshly carded for mistaken identity.

Still things to work on but improving week on week.

Next week West Bridgford

MOTM - Rob Foster