Great fightback Matson recover from 20-0 down to reach last four

MATSON will travel to Old Cryptians in the semi-finals of the North Gloucestershire Combination Junior Cup after they came back from 20-0 down to beat Chosen Hill 33-20 in the quarter-finals.

Tries from Al Bryan, Dery Sausman, Mike Adams and Matt Burrows handed Chosen their advantage, but Matson started their fightback just before halftime when Liam Benjamin went over, Liam Keating converting to make the interval score 20-7.

Matson then came out firing with four second-half tries to seal the win as Keating went over, followed by Jake Godsall, Ryan Woodhouse and Connor Gwilliam, all converted by Keating to seal the win.

Cryptians were 31-22 winners at Gordon League – Tom Brind scoring two tries, with one each for Bret Bennett, Steve Price and Karl Saunders. Gav Worrall added three conversions.

The other semi-final sees Longlevens host Old Richians after a solid defensive platform paved the way for Levens’14-10 win over Old Centralians.

Henry York scored the Griffins’ sole try, with Sam Hester adding three penalties, while Jon Huxtable and Alex Bailey scored a try each for Cents.

Richians were handed a walkover into the last four when Coney Hill withdrew.

Those semi-finals were due to be played last night (Wednesday).

The Glanville Cup final will see Matson face Old Centralians at Kingsholm after their semi-final successes on Thursday night.

Cents were 41-21 winners at Chosen Hill, scoring six tries through Kieran Bevan (two), Dale Cook (two), Rich Preece and Ben Turk.

Paul Knight added four conversions and Rob Preece kicked a penalty.

Chosen had led 6-0 with two Kev Saunders penalties, but Cents then opened a 31-6 lead en route to the win, while Chosen scored three tries through Ryan Rennebach, Max Smith and Rob Panting.

Will Holmyard’s try double topped and tailed Matson’s 26-10 win over Old Cryptians.

His first score, converted by Tom Knight, made it 7-0, before Crypts hit back with a penalty. Then Darren Collier’s score, improved by Fin Young, made it 14-3.

Crypts hit back with a converted try, making it 14-10, but Liam Roche’s try, followed by Holmyard’s second, converted by Young, sealed the victory.

In the Cheltenham Combination’s Minor Shield, Norton reached the final with a last-kick victory over Smiths, winning 13-12.

Adam Naylor and Dan Buchanon scored the Smiths tries, with one being converted by Tom Wardell.

The second semi-final of the Junior Cup was set to take place last night (Wednesday), with Bredon Star facing Stow II. Cheltenham II await in the final.

All three finals are to played at Cheltenham North RFC on April 30.

Lydney II will face Drybrook II in the Forest Combination’s Junior Cup semifinal after their 64-35 win over Berry Hill.

The Severnsiders ran in nine tries, with hat-tricks for Mike Cross and Jack O’connell, while Mason Cunliffe, Max Turner and Jack Curtis added one apiece.

Drew Roberts was in form with the boot, adding eight conversions and a penalty. The winners of the semi-final face Cinderford III in the final.

For Berry Hill, Duncan Adams scored two tries, with one each for Luke Powles, Matt Wheeler and Oli Morgan, while Danny Harris kicked four conversions and a penalty

But there was better news for Berry Hill as Shaun Mcroberts scored a hattrick of tries as their second XV set up a Minor Cup final meeting with Newent II at Drybrook on April 29.

Hill beat Drybrook III 39-5, with Tom Polly also in the points with two tries and a conversion.

Kieran Aston was in good form with the boot, adding four conversions and a penalty, while Jonty Parry was Drybrook’s try scorer.

In the Stroud Combination, Cainscross will await the winners of this weekend’s Bill Adams Cup semi-final between Dursley III and Wotton after booking their final place with a 12-5 win over Minchinhampton II.

This weekend also sees the Senior Cup semi-final between Stroud and Fairford, and the Junior Cup last-four ties, which see Dursley II host Minchinhampton and Painswick entertain Cirencester II.

The other Senior Cup semi-final is scheduled for April 30, with Dursley hosting Cirencester.