Midlands Intermediate Cup Round 2 Nottingham Casuals 21 Stafford 28

13th October 2012

Casuals involvement in this competition was short lived, after having a
bye in the first round, they failed to make home advantage count.
Stafford were an unknown quantity, but it was clear that Casuals could
and should have won. Stafford kept their discipline, whilst Casuals
were pressing the self destruct button.
Once again Casuals had to play catch up rugby, and their final efforts
fell just short.
They ran in 3 good tries, one in either half, and even with the late
penalty kicks, they could not subdue the visitors.

Stafford opened the scoring with a penalty, but Mark Higgins crossed
when Brodie Howatson managed to flick the ball inside just before he
was being bundled out of play, but Stafford hit back with a try and
penalty to take a slim lead into halftime.

Stafford then crossed for 2 further tries. When Stafford were gifted a
try in a defensive mix up on Casuals try line they looked to have sewn
the game up.
Howatson pulled Casuals back into the game, keeping up his scoring run
when he got in for a try, and Casuals the added another through full
back Mike Rollason.
2 yellow cards in 2 minutes, 25 minutes in , left Casuals with only 13
men for 8 minutes and a monumental task.
Stafford took advantage adding the final try before Higgins slotted a
late penalty.

Had Casuals not conceded so many penalties, they could have easily been
victorious