Regional 2 Tribute 
Severn League

Matson 31 Newent 10

It is always a daunting prospect facing Matson on their own turf and even more so when the Gloucester side are unbeaten in the league at the half way stage, reports FRANK BOWE.

So it was that the home side opened the scoring following a scrum in the visitors half with the ball shipped out to the three-quarters whose slick hands, power and pace were too much for the Newent defence.

The conversion attempt, from wide out, was unsuccessful.

From the restart, Newent enjoyed some territorial advantage, and due to a succession of penalties conceded by Matson, found themselves with an attacking line-out five metres out.

A catch and drive seemed to be the right action and it was moving well until pulled down illegally, prop O’Malley deemed to be the chief offender and show a yellow card.

This would have repercussions as Matson’s other prop had been yellow-carded at the previous line-out for a deliberate knock-on.

But Matson defended well and kept the visitors out, poor handling letting the visitors down.

Due to there being two Matson props in the sin bin, the scrums became “uncontested” which effectively ruled out a significant part of the advantage that Newent should have had.

Needless to say, gaps appeared in the home side’s defence and this was exploited by Newent No 8 Ben Vincent, who made a 40m run brushing off tackles in his bid for the try line only to be brought down a metre short.

Three phases of play later, a gap on the left flank was exploited by Newent winger Nathan Brookes who touched down in the corner.

The difficult kick was converted by Tom Webb who then proceeded to kick a penalty goal from the half way line to give Newent a 10-5 lead at half-time.

But Vincent had damaged his hamstring during his impressive break and had to leave the field.

And he was followed by two more of the visitors’ forwards also carrying injuries.

This is to take no credit from the hosts who were very much in the ascendancy after the break and made their dominance tell.

Three Matson tries were scored in fairly quick succession by their strong running three-quarters, one as a result of the hosts taking a Newent scrum against the head.

The visitors’ scrum had stood firm for most of the match but was now starting to creak. It reached a point where a substitute scrum-half was playing as a wing forward.

The Green Army team did not capitulate but they were well beaten by a superior team, on the day. The strong Matson players took the ball at pace and ran good lines, while their rush defence caused problems and they were uncompromising at the rucks.

Ross-on-Wye 1st XV’s away game at Old Centralians was postponed owing to a frozen pitch, as was Newent Phoenix’s home match with Old Patesians.

Ross host Gordon League this Saturday afternoon (December 17), while Newent 1st XV visit Winscombe.