Cup Final

Matlock second XV.........30

Ashbourne second XV......5

(at Chesterfield RFC)

MATLOCK'S second XV won their respective Derbyshire Cup for the first time since the 1993/94 season last Sunday, with a solid performance over a willing Ashbourne side.

It was a fair reflection on an encouraging season for the Dales side and a reward for their excellent victory over a much-heralded Derby team in the semi-final, which Matlock quite rightly did not let become the pinnacle of their season.

Matlock should really have taken the lead direct from the kick-off, but Nick Newberry was stopped inches short and apart from this early bright spot, Matlock's play in the first quarter was rather ragged and error-strewn.

Although dominant in both possession and territory, big-match anxiety seemed to be getting the better of them.

Shortly however, following James Young's excellent break down the blind-side of a scrum, full-back Tom Hooton was on hand to touch down for the first try of the match to settle Matlock's nerves.

David Goodall converted and, as the half wore on, added two further penalty goals to stretch Matlock's lead to 13 points at the break, with no sign of any real resistance from a subdued Ashbourne side.

Nevertheless, Matlock were far from home and dry and with no real margin for error, relaxed and proceeded to hand the initiative back to their opponents.

Firstly, Matlock twice failed to deal properly with a bouncing ball, which Ashbourne collected and recycled for their centre to touch down out wide to close the gap to eight points, 13-5.

Then, after another break, Ashbourne were denied a second score when the referee harshly awarded a forward pass with the line at their mercy.

Further errors allowed Ashbourne to spend lengthy spells camped deep within Matlock territory during the third quarter of the match, but no further reward followed, and Matlock got a second wind as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

Excellent tactical kicking from Matlock put them into the right areas of the park and relieved the pressure on their stretched defence.

Eventually, following another effective rolling maul inside their opponents' twenty-two, the ball was recycled for David Hart to force his way over for a decisive try.