Western Counties North

Matson 29

Berry Hill 33

THE home fixture with Matson in October was Berry Hill's toughest game of the season... until Saturday.

Due to heavy rain the game was moved onto an adjoining Matson pitch, but Hill still got off to a good start with Lee Osborne kicking an early penalty.

This, however, was the last time Hill saw the ball for 10 minutes. Matson dominated the play and scored two tries in quick succession, one of which was converted, for a 12-3 lead.

Hill's forwards were being beaten with their own most potent weapon – the driving maul from the line-out.

After a severe dressing down from coach Brett Scriven and captain Andy Wright, Hill began to gain some possession and territory.

They kicked a penalty to the corner, drove the home pack back and were about to cross the line when the ref awarded a penalty-try.

Sean McRoberts then barged his way over from a 5m scrum and Andy Wright found himself at the bottom of a driven line-out maul to score Hill's third try. With Osborne kicking a penalty and a conversion, the visitors had turned things around to lead 23-12 at the break.

In the second-half Osborne slotted his third penalty, but Matson reduced the deficit to 26-23 with two more tries from driven line-out mauls.

Another Osborne penalty made it 26-26 and the game was on a knife's edge.

Six minutes from time, Matson regained the lead with a penalty to put Hill's 17 match unbeaten run on the line.

However, from the restart, Matson were penalised for holding on to the ball and fly-half Dave Croudace – making his Hill debut – kicked deep into the home 22.

Hill won the line-out and attacked with the driving maul that had been so effective for both sides all afternoon.

Gaining momentum on the muddy pitch made it impossible for Matson to stop them – and the pack guided Kurt Brown (pictured) over for a decisive try, which Osborne converted.

Needing a try to win the game, Matson threw everything they had at the visitors.

Hill's defence held firm and Dave Arnott eventually managed to clear the ball into touch to end the game.

This Saturday, Hill break from league action to take on Oldfield Old Boys at home in the National Cup (2.30pm).