Despite incurring an injury in the warmup, Academy correspondent Mick Suddaby scribbled from his pitch-side chair to report as follows:

Melbourne against Matlock round two, first game ended in a draw. Could Melbourne learn from the last game? The answer was yes but the start didn't suggest the lads had…

Melbourne kicked off and Matlock immediately collected the ball ran past several weak tackles for a score in our left corner - ten seconds in and down five nil with the conversion kick just missed.

Melbourne restarted but Matlock’s more aggressive play from their strong forward runners was putting Melbourne on the back foot and Jamie was kicking the ball deep into Matlock territory to relieve the pressure.

The first ten minutes was all Matlock, and when Melbourne got the ball Matlock’s line press gave no room or time for the backs to use their silky skills. Eventually Melbourne got a toe hold with a penalty kick which Jamie kicked from about thirty meters out - 3v5 and game on! Lifted by the points Melbourne started to match Matlock’s aggressive play with some physical defensive work.

This aggressive Melbourne play was started by our back row with Sudders and Max rucking Matlock off good ball and Ben and Jamie also getting in on the action. The game started to turn and the Melbourne scrum was in total domination on our ball and Matlock’s. Front five and replacements all on top with no difference when personnel changed; training Thursday is starting to show and the back row work is also start to deliver.

Big Michael applied a devastating hand off whilst on a charge ball in hand, sitting the defender on his backside and drawing gasps from the spectators.

Matt Harris also turned over Matlock line out ball and went on a charge drawing cover but slow support turned the ball back over. Matlock attacked with ball down our right and Watto was yellow carded for being off his feet and not rolling away at the ruck. This spurred Matlock forward and again scored - try but conversion missed 3 v 10.

Watto got back on just before end of the first half and Melbourne won a penalty. Jamie played the impressive Dan Makepeace in for a try and converted the kick to end the first half 10 all.

The second half started better for Melbourne with several mini attacks and front-foot ball; the first from a scrum and all backs getting hands on the ball before a knock on at the Matlock forty meter line - better lads.

The next attack came from Ben and Sudders’ hard work at the ruck, rucking lower and more aggressive play winning the ball back from a Matlock line out. In the second half the Melbourne line out was winning almost all the ball apart from one on Matlock’s five meter line which we dropped - never mind.

Gaunty got into the action next with a nice mini counter being stopped again inside Matlock’s forty meter and he had three other chances inside the second half with one break going down due to poor pass on his toes.

Killer was having a massive influence on the team and stepped and went for our next break with Sudders in close support, winning the ruck only for Matlock to infringe and penalty awarded thirty out straight in front posts, Jamie stepped up and converted 13v10 Melbourne.

Matlock kept probing but this was met by the thin green defensive line with every man putting in the hits and when line was broken cover got the tackle in stopping Matlock dead.

The next bit of work was a double play by our new flanker conversion Cameron from our five meter with Matlock attacking scrum. Matlock’s No. 8 attacked blind side Cameron tackled him stopping him three meters out, rolled out and tackled another Matlock forward who was hit so hard and fast he coughed the ball forward with the line open and try in sight. Back row work at its best lads! Max another back row convert was next up again from scrum on Matlock ball, fast aggressive attack on Matlocks scrum half forcing the kick to go out on the full - lovely.

Next was Adrian in mid-field, stepping the rush defence and managing to step the second defensive line to set up a ruck behind Matlock’s forwards. The backs attacked but final ball went behind the winger - unlucky.

The pressure was starting to tell on Matlock in all areas and the penalty count against them was starting to increase. Melbourne were awarded a penalty at about half way and Jamie drilled it down and out for a lineout on the Matlock five meter. From the lineout the Melbourne forwards displayed great control utilising pick and go to work towards the try line, all the time condensing the Matlock forwards allowing a ball out to Watto arriving at pace to crash over for a converted try.

Matlock were still in the game and went at Melbourne but again the lads managed to stop them several times. Dylan Spurling needs a big thanks from the whole team when he was last man in our defensive line with a three v him. He stopped the ball carrier and forced the knock on - great work.

Final whistle blown and a good win, well-earned at 20v10 to Melbourne.

MOTM: Ben Brough (complete commitment at the breakdown, fantastic work rate and accurate lineout ball)

Tries: Dan Makepeace, Tom Watson
Convs: Jamie Rudd (x2)
Pens: Jamie Rudd (x2)

Melbourne RFC

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