Mansfield 17 Nottingham Casuals nil

26th Nov

Nottinghamshire Cup

Midlands 2 Casuals travelled to Mansfield for this cup game, in the knowledge that their hosts are 5th in National 3, 33 places above Casuals.
By the end of the game, you might have thought only a couple of places separated them, so dogged and determined were Casuals, and so resolute in defence.

Casuals had to make several changes, and some worked well, especially the scrum half/flyhalf combination of Will Drew and Jonny Morris.
The forwards put themselves about,with Ben Wells leading the attacks from No.8.
Just need to get all of the forwards involved all of the time, not leave it to just a few when the hard graft has to be put in.

Playing with the wind, Mansfield managed peg Casuals back in their half, but Casuals harrying of Mansfield every time they moved the ball, led to endless poor passes, and dropped ball.
Mansfield kicked a penalty to touch, and their forwards took the ball over for the first try.
And that’s how it stayed until well after ½ time.

Casuals could have pegged Mansfield back with a simple penalty shot at goal, but chose instead to run a quick penalty, and the opportunity was lost.

The same tactic was employed for the second try as for the first, and Mansfield added to their solitary score after 10 minutes of the 2nd half.

In between times Casuals fought their way upfield, and with Jonny Morris using the boot productively, and foraging runs from the forwards, Casuals made ground into Mansfield half regularly. But no score came of it.
Instead it was Mansfield who took a quick penalty midfield, and unfortunately Casuals were unable to stop the run in.
But just when it was thought that Mansfield would come on strong, it was Casuals who started to play in Mansfield half.
The forwards had several attempts to maul the ball over the line, but Mansfield held them up.
Almost right at the death, the referee decided it was time to brandish the yellow card, and in quick succession he dispatched Will Drew, and the Andy Binks, which was somewhat late to assert his authority, considering there had been numerous persistent offences around the breakdown from early in the 1st half, from both sides.
Casuals nearly had the final word when a midfield break took Casuals up to the last defender, but the referee ungenerously deemed the final pass to be forward, and that was that.

Hopefully Casuals can heart from this display, and transfer the resoluteness to next weeks league encounter.

We heard later on that George Coxell had broken his arm during the game, and was getting plastered at Kings Mill hospital.
Thanks to Stef Roberts for taking him to hospital, and transporting him home later!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Mansfield for their hospitality, really enjoyed the lemonade and the buffet.