Southwell 9 Nottingham Casuals 28

Casuals still top the table after a thrilling win in the mud that is Southwell's rugby pitch.

Despite going 9 - 3 down, Casuals rallied to score 4 tries, 1 each for Joe Barton and Chris Brelsford, and 2 for Ben Hallam.

It wasn’t the best of starts for Casuals when Jon Ackroyd was penalised for not rolling away (he stood up instead and got out of the way, but obviously should have rolled away as instructed??????????), so penalty to Southwell, 3 – 0 lead.
But part time kicker,Brody Howatson, soon levelled the scores.
Unfortunately Casuals were pinged twice more and Southwell added another 6 points.

It certainly wasn’t looking too good at this point, but it was Casuals inability to create, what with misdirected and mistimed passes, and movements off the base of the scrum that went absolutely nowhere, and were easily snuffed out by Southwell.

Casuals pack obviously decided that enough was enough, and drove a maul almost 30 metres, before Joe Barton went in for the try.
This was followed shortly after by a Mark Higgins penalty (coming on at scrum half after arriving late due to car problems).
That took Casuals into half time at 11-9.

The second half Casuals had the advantage of the slight wind, with the forwards doing their stuff, Casuals kept the pressure on, and Southwell only managed a modicum of attacks into the Casuals half.
Motivated by the need to keep up the momentum in the league, Casuals upped their game in the second forty.
Maybe it was a little bit of “afters” on Will Drewe by a certain youth that spurred him and the rest of Casuals on, (unwise at your age and stature chap, another team might have repaid you in a different manner. It certainly did not go un-noticed)

When Southwell tried to clear their lines, the kick went to Ben Hallam near on half way, and his long looping run took him outside of all the defence as they floundered across to try to intercept him, but his speed took him into the corner for Casuals second try.

The forwards’ attacking kept Casuals deep in Southwell’s half, and from one of the concerted passing moves, the ball went through several hands before Andy Gill made significant ground to put Chris Brelsford into the corner.

It was the forwards again who laid the foundations for the last try, as they once again pushed Southwell backwards twice, in the scrum before the ball was finally released and Will Drewe repeated a now well practiced move as he put Ben Hallam into a massive gap, and “Bullet” went straight in under the posts for the 4th bonus point try, which Higgins topped off with the conversion.

Just below them Ashbourne beat Melbourne, to keep them in second and Melbourne 3rd.

So it's up to Casuals to maintain this form and gain promotion

Next week it’s Amber Valley 1sts, at Canalside and the 2nds travel Pye Bridge. Both 3pm kick off