Stamford 10 Casuals 26

6th September 2014

NLD Shield
Stamford 10 Casuals 26

Casuals started off the season in fine style with an emphatic win, away at Stamford.
Fielding several new players, with Adam Connolly at prop, Kieran Maisonette, lock, flanker Jimmy Voss,
No 8 Luke Duggleby, James Constable at 10, Tom Blanks on the wing, and Gareth Davies-Jones, full back.

The first ¼ of an hour saw Casuals on the offensive, with some good runs, and some telling tackles pinning Stamford back, and forcing errors, with no reward.
Stamford managed to take play in to Casuals 22, with a penalty to touch, but Casuals regained possession, and a penalty relieved the pressure.

Barkham then broke down the wing, linking up with Duggleby, and Ben Foss, to send Higgins away for the opening try, which was converted by Constable.
Casuals kept up the pressure, leading to more mistakes from Stamford.
Casuals won possession midfield, and the ball went out to Blanks who showed the defence a clean pair of heels for the next try.
Blanks was instrumental in the next try, again making good ground before shipping the ball inside for Foss for Foss to twist his way over for the third try.

Casuals could not improve the score line despite having good possession on the Stamford line, and it was Stamford who took play up-field.
A minor skirmish near Casuals line saw Maisonette asked to leave the pitch, and from the resultant penalty, Stamford drove over the line for a converted try.
After half time Stamford added to their points with a short range penalty, but instead of wilting, Casuals upped their game, and Stamford began to visibly tire in the face of the pressure.

Although not able to add any more tries, Constable closed out the game with some well taken penalties, putting Casuals into the next round.

Next week Casuals host Bakewell at Canalside in the first round of the league, with a pre-lunch reception for former players.
.