NLD Shield Casuals 36 Lincoln13

5th September 2015

Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire Knockout Shield

Nottingham Casuals 36 Lincoln 13

Casuals started the 2015-16 season in a positive manner, with an excellent win.
After wins in their 2 warm up games against Mellish and Long Eaton, Casuals were looking forward to a good workout, to get some useful match time in before starting their league campaign.

During the first half Casuals played into a slight wind and Lincoln came out all guns blazing, but Casuals tackling, fitness and work around the pitch was going to be the key in the latter stages.
Lincoln were showing some real determination, and for the first part of the game, Casuals allowed them too much room, but they snuffed out any attacks, before they could develop.
Lincoln helped somewhat as they strangely refused to boot the ball out of defence, and did not take advantage of the wind, preferring to rely on their passing and support skills.

Casuals came close to scoring in only the second minute, after Steve Naylor made good ground down the left, but the final pass went forward, denying Howatson the score, but a few minutes later Casuals opened the scoring with a converted try.
Brodie Howatson followed up a clearing kick from Higgins, contesting for the ball Howatson soared above a Lincoln defender to secure possession, sprinting in from the ½ way for the touch down with Higgins putting over the conversion.

Lincoln came back with an easy penalty from in front of the posts.

However, Casuals started to gain territorial advantage, but it took them until the 28th minute to get the next score.
With Casuals’ forwards supplying good ball from all phases, turning over possession in the loose a number of times, it was only a matter of time before Casuals got some more points.
Gareth Davies-Jones put in a chip kick over the defence, and right wing Alex Walkden gathered the ball to register his first try for Casuals.

Lincoln were still showing a lot of stubbornness, and they consistently tried to run the ball from all positions, but they failed to break through Casuals’ defence.
They eventually managed to work their way to within kicking range to add a second penalty.

The second half saw Casuals start to dominate, and with the wind advantage, they put the game out of Lincoln’s reach.

When Casuals again took the ball from Lincoln in the loose, the backs set up a series of plays, and Steve Naylor managed to hang onto a misdirected pass to cross wide out.
Casuals followed that up when they drove a lineout over the line and Steve John fell on the ball to get his first try for Casuals.

Casuals added another when the backs again moved the ball about with some slick handling, and it was Gareth Davies-Jones who crossed for the final try, with Higgins kicking his second conversion.

Lincoln finally managed to break through for a try, with Casuals’ previously imperious defence failing to stop the move, but Casuals had a huge lead, so it only dented Casuals pride, as they ran out easy victors.

Casuals had several new players in their squad, apart from the previously mentioned try scorers. James Wood and Cameron McNeil also featured.
Alongside them was Ash Sunderland coming back in at prop after several years languishing in the 2nd team

The win sets Casuals up for the first league game, away at Mansfield, where they are not anticipating an easy run out.