Matlock 29 v 7 Wellingborough

Wellingborough lost to Matlock at the weekend in a game that was over after 20 minutes.

Borough still seemed to have their coach journey in their system as the match started on a pitch that looked like it had just been ploughed. Matlock soon went ahead after just 2 minutes through a catch and drive from a lineout. This was the sign of things to come as they took control of every set piece.

Matlock continued to dominate scrums and lineout’s and shoved the Borough pack all over the park and crossed for 5 more scores to make to score 29 – 0 after just 20 minutes. The introduction or Richard Mallard at prop turned the game for Borough as he took control of the scrums and Borough began to find their feet.

On the stroke of half time skipper Pete Vickers saw space in the corner and chipped through for wing Dan Fitzhuigh to touch down. Vickers converted well from the touch line.

Unknown to both teams this was to be the final score of the match as a scrappy second half saw neither team come close to scoring. Borough having the better of their tiring opponents were unable to find that gap to break through. The referee who was very poor throughout the game blew the final whistle to give Matlock the win.

Vickers said after the game. “I thought after the performance of last week that things couldn’t get worse, but that first 20 minutes was completely unacceptable. If we hadn’t brought Richard Mallard on when we did the score could have been much more.”