Chipping Sodbury returned to winning ways with a fine win over early pace-setters over Matson at The Ridings on Saturday.

There was a flurry of early cards as Sodbury received three yellows while Matson received one, along with a red on 55 minutes.

After two minutes, Sodbury broke free and scored. Joe Horton was unleashed, but his savage straight run was cut short on the Matson 22. The ball was recycled in and given to Jon Cook, who circumnavigated the defence to score in the corner. He converted his own try from the touchline. Sodbury went on to score four more tries, all of which Cook converted on his way to a 20-point personal haul.

Then ensued heroic defence from Jason Petchey and Dave Guest, who gave the Matson no.10 a torrid time whenever he kicked from hand. Matson had been pressing hard into Sodbury’s 22 when they knocked on. From the resulting scrum, Tom Head spotted the loafing Matson back row and went for it. His searing acceleration carried him 45 metres before any cover got close. He drew two of them as he delivered a stunning pass to Dan Bradley, who was skimming across in support. Once Bradley had the ball, the try was a formality, and he touched down beneath the posts.

Less than ten minutes later, Sodbury were making some real progress from a lineout on Matson’s 10m line. The pack rumbled forward, then there was an injection of zealous ball-carrying from Butcher, Lee Ralph, and George Barnes. Once they were within 10m there was a series of pick and go drives, which culminated in Gareth Hollywell smashing his way over the line for his maiden try for Sodbury.

Sodbury were flying but could do nothing to prevent a Matson try on the cusp of half-time, after they engineered a three-on-two round the blindside off a scrum.

Matson were in the points again five minutes into the second half when they disrupted a 5m defensive Sodbury scrum. The try was scored from a sitting position, something never seen before by the Ridings’ crowd. From this, Sodbury put the hammer down again, eventually penetrating the Matson 22. Hollywell was displaying such power that a would-be tackler became airborne before the Sods were awarded a penalty.

The penalty was taken quickly and the ball found Butcher sauntering around in the centre. With the ball in his hands, though, he took off, kept a straight line, and made the defence focus on him. For the second week in a row, Butcher passed two-handed to Bradley, who swerved around two tacklers before touching down from 20m. Matson were then reduced to 14, although this didn’t dent their effort and Sodbury were still forced into feverish defence at times.

Barnes set off events for Sodbury’s final try. He found Petchey, who played a perfect pass to Horton who then found Cook. When Cook was caught, the pack clattered into action and carried play to the edge of the 22. There was a free kick awarded and it was taken quickly.

One swift ruck later, Cook carried the ball 15m out for his second try.

Matson went close to scoring in the final minutes but try-saving tackles on the line kept the score at 35 – 12 as Sodbury registered a crucial win.