Kesteven give Casuals a shock

Midlands 3 East North

Kesteven 25 Nottingham Casuals 28

Casuals escaped by the skin of their teeth, getting the “winning” score right at the death.
Kesteven could have claimed to be the rightful winners in this encounter, but Casuals had been denied a perfectly legitimate score minutes earlier, which even the Kesteven supporters said, should have been awarded.

The first half was nearly all Kesteven, as they used the gale to great advantage.
The hosts took the lead with a penalty, but it was 25 minutes before they scored again.

Casuals were passing the ball about like skittish schoolgirls, and hardly constructed a decent move.
Kesteven latched onto a poor pass, and they gave their wing the room to run, and he “screamed” round Casuals defence from halfway, for the try.

Kesteven’s forwards got in the act as they drove a maul up to Casuals line, but the manner of the score was more American football than Rugby as the ball carrier handed the ball to the man in front of him for the touchdown.
(If you can you can get away with it, why not?)

Then that move down the right wing again, Casuals fell off the tackles, and Kesteven crossed for the try.

Just before half time, Casuals managed to get their act together. A quick penalty was shifted out to Mark Higgins and crossed in the corner for a 20 – 5 half time scoreline.

Casuals at last managed to put together some constructive Rugby,mainly in the forwards, whilst the backs continued to have a mare.
However too many moves stooped as Casuals wasted good scrum possession by individuals running directly at the Kesteven defence.

Higgins closed the score line up with a penalty soon after the restart.

Casuals forwards then began to rumble, and once they realised they could walk the opposition backwards at will, they began to keep it close.
A lineout close to Kesteven’s line following a superb touch kick from a paenalty,was driven over and Graeme (not Graham) Roberts grabbed the try.

A similar tactic from a lineout 20 metres out, then allowed Ben Wells in for the next try.

Casuals looked to be heading for the win, but a simple backs move by Kesteven, and some apathetic tackling by Casuals, allowed Kesteven to restore a reasonable margin.

But Casuals forwards were not going to let it go, and when they were awarded a free kick, some good forward interplay was finished off by Andy Gill, as he forced his way through the defence and then completed a long run in for the next try.

Then two bizarre decisions:
the first a long looping pass to Brody Howatson, and he ran over the goal line for what everyone thought was a score, but it was adjudged to be forward, which meant Casuals were still two points behind.

The second
Casuals forwards were not finished and they again took Kesteven back over their goal line, and in the ensuing scramble, Leon Jackson was "given" the try, as he rolled over in the melee to try to place the ball down.
Huge disbelief from Kesteven, a view not disputed by many on the touchline.
Jackson was certainly not about to turn it down, and Casuals came away with a bonus point win.

With only 2 penalty kicks and 9 tries unconverted tries, it was clear to see how much the wind influenced this game.

Commiserations to Kesteven after a wonderful effort.
Also let’s hope they can put their clubhouse back in order soon, after the flood following some burst pipes, and the theft of their heaters.

Next week it's Melbourne at home. 2.15 kick off
Get behind Casuals in this crucial encounter