Sat 1 Feb 2025
The CABs disappointing recent away form continues as the blacks suffer another heavy loss of 32-5 to improving Matson.
The CABs were looking to improve after their 40-7 loss last week, in the top of the table clash, at Barnstaple and on Daniel Goldsmith's 100th appearance. However, only 3 minutes after kick off, Matson took advantage of a lineout they won on our 5-yard line, used a maul to gain meterage then spun the ball wide to a Matson backrower who found a gap in the Black’s defence and scored the first try of the game. This was then converted to make the score 7-0. Shortly after, a Matson player was sin binned for a high tackle as the CABs started to put pressure on the Matson defence. During one attack a long pass was fielded by Ollie Bebbington, but he collision resulted in him limping off the pitch injured, and Jamie Chapman was brought on to replace him, after a prolonged absence with a fractured arm. The CABs were making the play and creating opportunities to get into the Matson 22. However, excellent, aggressive maul d
efence and handling errors enabled Matson to clear their lines on several occasions. As the half ebbed away, it was the CABs who conceded when a powerful scrum allowed Matson to kick a penalty, extending their lead to 10-0. The half-time focus was very much on continuing to do all the right things between the 22s, but once in there they just needed to be patient and build pressure and be more urgent and clinical at the contact and breakdown areas. The second half started the same as the first, with Matson scoring a try in the first 5 minutes. Leion Cole was sin binned for a high tackle, which was followed by a lineout that Matson won and mauled over the line, which was converted making the score 17-0. Just 4 minutes after this, a gap in the Black’s defence allowed Matson to slip through and dot the ball down over the line but the conversion was missed, extending their lead to 22-0. In the last 20 minutes of the game, the Blacks increased their tempo and were an equal match for Matson, playing well and stopping them in their tracks but the damage was already done. 58 minutes in, a Matson’s high tackle resulted in Mitch Hawken being subbed off, Charlie Short was brought on. Shortly after this, the Blacks dived over the line, courtesy of Lloyd Duke and scored a try, but the conversion was missed, leaving the score at 22-5. Not long after this, Matson intercepted a long pass from the Blacks and ran to the tryline where they scored again and it was converted, making the score 29-5.
A penalty kick, for Matson, rounded off the scoring, winning 32-5. While Matson found gaps in our defence and exploited any mistakes we made, the Blacks struggled to finish off the opportunities for themselves. It was a rough game for the Blacks with many injuries and another heavy defeat leaves their hopes of promotion in tatters as they are now16 points behind the leaders, Brixham. The CABs have no let up, in this early 2025 fixture list and travel to Marlborough hoping to patch up the casualties and have a better result.
Report by Lucy Beacham/
Pictures by Ben Beacham.
