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Matson chairman Lee Bayliss delighted with fine win over Chew Valley in Regional 1 South West

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, 09:00

Matson gave their supporters the perfect Christmas present when they clinched an emphatic 39-12 win at home to Chew Valley.

It was their third win of the campaign in Regional 1 South West and their first since the beginning of October, and chairman Lee Bayliss was delighted.

“It was thoroughly deserved,” he said. “We played really well at Launceston the week before and the scoreline didn’t reflect the performance.

“It was a real squad effort against Chew Valley. It was a really, really good performance.”

Matson remain bottom of the 12-strong division but they moved to within five points of Marlborough, the team above them, who they travel to play in their next fixture on Saturday 10^th January.

They also have a trip to 10^th-placed Sidmouth next month, and with a game in hand on Marlborough there is all to play for in the second half of the season.

“It’s going to be hard to stay up, we’re a very small fish in a big pool,” admitted Bayliss. “But the lads just want to play rugby, they were really hungry on Saturday, they just wanted it.”

Matson had already won 25-19 at eighth-placed Chew Valley earlier in the season – their other win was against Marlborough – and Saturday’s win was all the more poignant because it came in the week of club legend Malcolm Hayes’ funeral.

“He played for the club for many years,” said Bayliss, who is in his second season as chairman. “He was an absolute gentleman.”

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Matson chairman Lee Bayliss delighted with fine win over Chew Valley in Regional 1 South West

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