Matlock Rugby News- January 16th

Please find below the latest Matlock Rugby news, provided regularly by Matlock Rugby Vice President David. 

_________________________________________________________________

THE 2NDS AND 3RDS TAKE PRIDE OF PLACE THIS WEEK

Our Paparazzi took the long journey to Chesterfield to take action shots of the Matlock 2nd XV's victory over our neighbours Chesterfield Panthers by a score line of 35 points to 19. Pictures can also be seen on the Matlock Senior Rugby Facebook page including a fabulous photo of Tupton and Matlock 3rds.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/matlock/photos/chesterfield-2nd-xv-19-v-matlock-2nd-xv-35-715669.html

Our resident scribe Chris Loeber sent me the under noted reports for both the 2s and 3s who travelled a long way to Tupton and a great day was had by all including our foreign export Paul Emerson. 

"Yes, 2 good wins although the 2’s was a funny game – good photos from Colin (paparazzi) though.

Chesterfield 2^nd 19 Matlock 2^nd 35

5 tries, 5 conversions, 5 yellow cards – a funny game!

The seconds maintained their position at the top of their Pennant league in a match which started with much promise but which deteriorated to near farce when the referee decided that nearly every penalty offence deserved a yellow card. A depleted Matlock pack found themselves spending the final minutes of the game desperately defending their own line.

The lack of a first team fixture gave Tom Cruttenden the opportunity the get some good pitch time and Marcus and Curtis Bolam both made a welcome return to the second team fold.

As with many games this season the forwards laid sound foundations and the backs showed they had the pace and power to score from anywhere on the pitch. Tries came from Mike Gunter (2), Chris Buckley, Harry Hunt and perhaps the best of the lot from Marcus Bolam. Chris Buckley converted them all.

The most impressive try wasn’t allowed! A sweeping move from near our line, running back a Chesterfield kick which resulted in Harry Hunt scoring beneath the posts was brought back for a somewhat surprising forward pass.

Tupton 2^nd 7   Matlock 3^rd   57

A stunning result for the 3^rd’s against a strengthened Tupton team.

Captain Bruce Johnson had assembled an outfit blessed with experience and pace (some had experience and some had pace, but none had both!)

As with all games with Tupton the match was played in tremendous spirit with both victors and vanquished enjoying a crisp winter’s afternoon in the true spirit of rugby.

This week the seconds are looking for a pool fixture – hopefully at home whilst the thirds entertain Chesterfield 3rds in a Pennant League game (kick off 2.15)"

Once again, many thanks Chris for your hard work with the future of the club!!

  

FIXTURES FOR 21ST JANUARY

Matlock 1st XV are back in action down at Cromford against Notts Casuals whilst the 3rd XV play Chesterfield also at home. Both games kick off at 2.15pm. At the time of going to press the 2nd XV may have the chance of playing the Derbyshire 2^Nd team Cup game against Ilkeston, we await news.

MATLOCK RUGBY VICE PRESIDENTS LUNCH

Please remember that our next Vice Presidents Lunch will be on Saturday 4th March at the Club House. Our opponents that day will be Coalville RUFC. Early bookings are being taken but an official notice will be going out in the next couple of weeks. We would ask you to book and pay in advance which will allow us to plan and cater for such a big club event.

MATLOCK TOWN FOOTBALL SPORTSMANS DINNER

Our Vice President Tom Wright who is the Chairman of Matlock Town Football Club has asked me to circulate the attached. If anyone is interested in attending please contact Tom directly.

LASTLY PLEASE NOTE THE 1ST JULY IN YOUR DIARY FOR THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT COUNTY HALL

If you want more details, please contact me at the VP Office on 07951 268678. There is no point contacting Les as the lazy bugger is lying somewhere in Western Australia comforting a kangaroo and getting very hot to boiling!!!

Yours in Matlock Rugby

David

Matlock Rugby Vice Presidents

Matlock Rugby Vice Presidents Newsletter- 19th December 2016

Please see below the latest news from the Matlock Rugby Club:

As we are entering the festive season it gives me great pleasure to publish our last Newsletter of the year with the news that all Matlock Rugby squads were winners on Saturday! Congratulations go to all including our coaches and back room staff. 

WEST BRIDGEFORD 1ST XV 15 MATLOCK 1ST XV   19

The Blue Boys made it four in a row with a narrow win in Nottingham as can be seen from 'Scoop' Tony Hooton's report here.

'Paparazzi' Baker has uploaded his usual standard of photographic genius too:

SCOOP LOEBER REPORT

West Bridgford 2^nd   14    Matlock  2^nd   22

"Unfortunately, there was only one game for our 2^nd and 3^rd teamers as Derby, not for the first time this season, called off the 3^rd team game on Friday evening – too late for as alternative fixture to be found. So it was either Christmas shopping or a trip to West Bridgford with the seconds. Fortunately, Bruce had already his presents bought and wrapped, so a very full Love Bus went to Nottingham.

Bridgford play in the League above us (where we want to be next season) and to come away with a hard earned, but well deserved win, was very pleasing.

Unfortunately, Harry Morton suffered a serious knee injury and our very best wishes go to him.

HALF SEASON REPORT

One of the senior club’s aims at the beginning of the season was to put out 3 sides each week, and I’m delighted to say that we’ve achieved this. Great credit goes to Chris Perry with the seconds and Bruce Johnson and Lee Brant (Milky) in the thirds. They move heaven and earth each week in the form of lots and lots of phone calls, texts, messages and Facebook posts to ensure that we get 3 teams on the pitch.

Of course, if the playing experience isn’t positive and enjoyable, guys will perhaps play one week but not the next. The 3rds have a fine group of senior players who are determined to introduce our youngsters to everything that’s right about senior rugby.

The seconds have great promise and potential. Essentially a young side, they are held together by a group of senior players who are keen to pass on their skills and experience and who demand that the side plays an open attacking style. Jonny Bunting, Elliot Boam, Adam Twyford and Chris Buckley (aided on occasions by Paul Lane) are the glue that makes this team successful.

Finally, it would only be right to report that the seconds (or at least one of their number) were again involved in a punch up on Saturday. Prop Daz Smith took part in a charity boxing night in Nottingham, where he lost on points but did make a mess of his opponent’s face and helped to raise £10,000 for cancer research. Well done mate.

Merry Christmas,

Chris

MATCH DAY – 7TH JANUARY 2017

Both the 1st and 2nd XV are at Newark RUFC on Saturday 7th January. The 3rd XV will be away to Worksop. All games will kick off at 2.15pm

Location details can be downloaded as below:

Newark   

Worksop 

Please continue supporting the Blue Boys!!!

DON’T FORGET – SATURDAY 1ST JULY 2017 

Matlock Rugby will be celebrating their 90th anniversary with a fabulous black tie dinner/dance with top notch entertainment and a wonderful speaker. No not our own Les Davis, he is organising the extravaganza!!! The event will be held in the Members Room at the Derbyshire County Hall in Matlock. As some of you know Les is off to Oz at the beginning of January for 10 weeks and has asked the Vice President's Office to help promote and sell tickets in his absence. Price for this not to be missed event will be £50 per ticket

This is a club function so can I ask if you have any influence in generating financial support from the business community to sponsor parts of the function such as the champagne reception, canapés, table decorations, tombola prizes, etc will be gratefully received. Please let me know sooner rather than later.

Please note that there will be 12 tables x 10.

Finally, may we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year coupled with Blue Boy success for the rest of the season!!!               David Hood & Ian McCuskey

Matlock Rugby- December Newsletter

This week's Newsletter will start with Matlock 2nd and 3rd XVs who continue to make this wonderful club of ours proud

Its always nice to get these reports from one of 'England's leading journalists' and a 'diplomat' to boot!! Early this morning I received 'Scoop' Loeber's action report and I mean action! How often have we heard and indeed experienced such disgusting behaviour at Ashfield. The Matlock Blue Boys continue to rise above it and continue to play and behave in accordance with the laws of rugby union. Well done the Blue Boys!

Here’s a brief roundup of the way the 2^nd’s and 3^rd’s spent their Saturday afternoons:

Ashfield 2^nd 5   Matlock 2^nd  55

When Tupton 1^st’s cried off it seemed a good idea to take a pool fixture away at Ashfield. Unfortunately it proved to be a bad decision as, both on the pitch and on the touchline Ashfield ‘s view of what is acceptable behaviour differed from ours.

A description of Ashfield’s conduct on the pitch would, I’m afraid, make the blood boil, so I’ll limit myself to the comment that we will not be taking “friendly fixtures “ against Ashfield in the foreseeable future.

Being charitable we could take the view that such conduct was the only way they could try to counter our attacking 15 man style. We’re definitely improving and some of our tries were quite stunning. Wingers Morgan Miles and Mark Thornley were outstanding with young Mark’s two tries earning him the coveted MOTM award. But in the words of that great Anglophile Eddie Jones “there’s a lot of improvement to come”.

Off the pitch the referee has said that his match report will include reference to the constant abuse both he and our players were subjected to by some of the Ashfield  spectators . All in all not a pleasant afternoon.

Tupton 2nds 26   Matlock 3rds 22

So Tupton gained revenge for their defeat at the Meadows the previous week. Captain Bruce was adamant that had they played for just 5 more minutes “we would have had them”

Players of the weekend were undoubtedly Jonny Bunting and Paul Lane. When told that the seconds had 19 players and the thirds only 14 they were more than happy to go with the thirds – club men through and through. Or did they use their vast experience to conclude that the Tupton experience was likely to be a whole lot more fun?!

This coming Saturday ( 10^th December) the seconds take a rest but the thirds entertain Ashbourne in a league encounter , kick off 2.15.

Matlock 1st XV vs Market Bosworth

After a weekend off from league action the 1st XV squad have ben training hard in preparation for the next league match at Cromford on Saturday against our friends down the road, Market Bosworth. Lets get behind the Blue Boys and encourage them to take another leap up the league. It was interesting to see that the league leaders, Melbourne, drew 14-14 with Loughborough who we defeated at Loughborough 29-8 over a week ago!

Lets have a good turnout of Vice Presidents, friends and family to show our support for Matlock Rugby 1st and 3rd XV.

Thank you

David

P.S. congratulations go to England for recording their 13th consecutive victory, said through gritted teeth but in the spirit of rugby union!!

(Newsletter courtesy of David Hood- Matlock Rugby )