Most tries in a game: (2) – Witney (September 24, 2005), Buckingham (December 3, 2005), Stow-on-the-Wold (January 7, 2006), Slough (March 11, 2006), Frome (September 16, 2006), Swindon (September 23, 2006), Swanage & Wareham (September 30, 2006), High Wycombe (January 13, 2007), Cheltenham (January 27, 2006).

Most tries in a season: 17 in 2005/06.

Most tries against: (3) – Buckingham, Frome, High Wycombe, Swindon, Witney.

Summary:

Described by current Director of Rugby, Seb Reynolds, as ‘a fabulous player’, Matt made a huge impression in helping Rams secure back-to-back titles in the 2005/06 and 06/07 campaigns.

He made a perfect start on debut by crossing in a 34-17 win at Olney – producing what was described as a ‘dazzling second-half display’ to turnaround a 10-0 interval deficit – and grabbed a brace in his third game to help defeat hosts Witney 25-7.

He made it seven tries in seven games by scoring in the next four matches, victories against Bletchley (33-5), Grove (20-15), Beaconsfield (31-11) and Swindon (39-13), and after a game without dotting down, he found his finishing instincts in a 45-0 cruise against Amersham & Chiltern.

Rams suffered their first defeat of the season at Buckingham in their 10th outing, although Matt grabbed a double – the second an incredible individual effort – in the 24-19 reverse.

Another two tries followed in a thrilling 51-38 home triumph against Stow-on the-Wold, and as he took his tally to 17 for the season with scores against Witney (22-5), Slough (two in the 64-12 triumph), Olney (17-3) and Buckingham (55-15), Rams wrapped up the Southern Counties North title with a spectacular 20 wins from 22 games, scoring a massive 671 points.

Having added 11 points with the boot – perhaps the one weakness in his game – Matt finished as top try-scorer and top point-scorer with 96.

He would go on to lead his side to another fabulous season in South West Two East, starting in amazing fashion with braces in the first three games against Frome (29-17), Swindon (41-36) and Swanage & Wareham (39-21), before making it seven tries in four games against Windsor (64-0).

Further tries against High Wycombe (33-19), Marlow (36-26) and Aylesbury (38-15) took him into double figures before the end of November, and he went onto grab two tries against both Wycombe (45-31) and Cheltenham (47-8) in January.

With Rams closing on the title, he scored his last of the campaign in the 28-5 home win against Frome, with the boys in blue taking the title with 19 wins from 22 games, and an even better 700 points in total!

While his game time was reduced the following year, Matt did add one final score to his Rams’ log when he went over in the last game of the club’s maiden season in South West One, albeit came in a disappointing 47-13 reverse at home to Bournemouth.

Tries by season:

2005/06 (17) – Olney (a), Witney x2 (a), Bletchley (h), Grove (a), Beaconsfield (a), Swindon (h), Amersham & Chiltern (h), Buckingham x2 (a), Stow-on-the-Wold x2 (h), Witney (h), Slough x2 (a), Olney (h), Buckingham (h).

06/07 (15) – Frome x2 (a), Swindon x2 (h), Swanage & Wareham x2 (a), Windsor (h), High Wycombe (h), Marlow (a), Aylesbury (h), High Wycombe x2 (a), Cheltenham x2 (h), Frome (h).

07/08 (1) – Bournemouth (h).

The list:

18 - Rob Castell
19 - Micky Bell
20 - Rodney Hutson
21 - Azza Hopkins
22 - Spike Chandler
23 - JJ Bell
24 - Olly Poole
25 - Olly Foxley
26 - Greg Illingworth
27 - Andy Fairweather
28 - Josh Smith
29 - Ollie Randall
30 - Greg Way