The great conditions and extra space really suited the speedsters in the first part of the game and a strong defensive set from Casuals saw Ilkeston pushed back to their own line before turnover ball saw Louis Kitchin score under the posts.

Louis and Tommy Roulstone (playing for the first time at No 8) proved a formidable defensive pairing, and their pace and mobility around the park was incredible. This effort by the loose forwards soon gave Tyrone Russell the ball in about half as much space as he needs – a quick twitch of his afterburners saw him scorch away for the first of his three tries.

A second try followed a short time later where Ty pounced on loose ball on his own 22 before accelerating away from grasping Ilkeston hands and running what was a ‘one horse’ race over 75 metres to the line.

Ty’s third try came shortly after in near identical circumstances where his ferocity at contact and ability to collect a ball and go put him under the posts yet again.

Ilkeston started then to play some excellent attacking and defensive team rugby and soon taught the lesson to Casuals that a strategy of relying on a individual pace would cost them dear. A repeated failure to secure their own ball meant that Casuals found themselves trying to live off ‘scraps’ of possessions and opposition mistakes.

Fortunately Tyrone being rested gave Matt Turnough a chance to demonstrate his flair in attack and he was soon running ‘broken field’ lines combining his own ability to identify space with searing speed to score two tries of his own.
Again Casuals failed to secure any of their own set piece or ruck ball, which meant that any possession was messy and not producing any real movement of the ball. Possession was repeatedly kicked away or run into contact and turned over.
As a positive there were some valiant individual defensive shifts put in by Danny Padley, Dylan Scott, Reuben Griffiths, Gabriel Whitchurch , Louis Kitchin – who was fearless throughout, and eventual ‘Player of the Match’ Tommy Roulstone who impressed everyone watching with his sheer work rate. Ieuan Harris managed to repeatedly frustrate disrupt the Ilkeston scrum half so at least Ilkeston were denied easy possession from the set piece.

Likewise there were other bright spots – our muscular chief ball carriers – Jack Walker Oakland and Lucas Haines looked far more imposing when running with the ball – and key was that their placement of the ball was very good. Lucas Haines on his own try line smashed several of the largest Ilkeston players backwards with ease, and our two hookers Gabriel and Albert Parsons are both really growing into the role.

Frankie Skerrit was mere millimetres away from two interceptions, and Matthew Price was solid throughout his shift in defence at full back.

Another individual try from Matt Turnough and some gritty defence in our 22 saw Casuals hold on for a win 7 tries to 6.
Ilkeston played a fabulous style of rugby, which when they add dimension of contested scrummaging and lineouts will make them a formidable outfit indeed.
Two games – two wins, but there is much for the coaches to take away and develop before the visit of Ashfield to Canalside in a few week’s time.