Casuals 28 Dronfield 3

Midlands 2 East North
Casuals 28 Dronfield 3

You could ask, where did that one come from? Probably Dronfield are asking the same question.
No hint of an early Christmas present for the visitors, as Casuals wrap up 2015 with a superb display, leaving it late to earn a very deserved bonus point, and lift them up the tree.
It was obviously a very mixed bag in the league, looking at some of the other results, but Casuals end up the year in 5th.

Casuals win sets up the post match Christmas party, and TL's leaving do
Casuals pre-planned post match fancy dress party was attended by about 50 players and supporters, before they set off to entertain the locals with their unique brand of carol singing.

Midlands 2 East (North)

Nottingham Casuals 28 Dronfield 3

Casuals full of Christmas cheer finishing off 2015 in style, as they slay league leaders Dronfield and send them packing.

Casuals secured a 4 try bonus point win, as they shrugged off the previous week’s loss at Coalville, and showed they are capable of taking on the best in the league without fear. Their intensity and determination was clear to see, and by the end Dronfield were very jaded and dispirited, probably in the realisation that Casuals were not going to present
them with an easy win.
It’s just their generosity to the lower placed sides in the league in previous games,that has prevented Casuals from sitting high in the league.
However, there was never any doubt that they would emerge victors in this game.
Playing against the wind in the first half, the game was scoreless for the first 35 minutes, which suited Casuals.
They were dominant for long periods, although not totally in unison, keeping the ball in hand, they pinned Dronfield back in their half for long periods, and got very close to scoring on a number of occasions.
Their dominance was such, that even when Dronfield did manage to clear their line, Casuals just bounced back to put on the pressure.
The forwards provided the platform as they secured possession in the set pieces, winning the scrums with ease, and even disrupting Dronfield’s lineouts, as well as taking their
own throws, with ease.
The clearest chance to score came when Brodie Howatson went on a looping run, which took him around the defence, but his kick ahead, rather than carrying on with his run was not the best, and Dronfield managed to get the ball a long way downfield into touch. This only spurred Casuals on. On 36 minutes,
winning possession from a turnover, Casuals played their way up to Dronfield’s line, where they secured lineout ball and scrum half Gareth Davies-Jones was driven over for the try.
Dronfield managed a penalty goal just on the stroke of half time, making the score 5 - 3 to Casuals.
The play in the second half was better than expected, with Casuals using the wind to their advantage, their interplay was a positive feature.
Dronfield conceded too many penalties, and Higgins popped over a penalty, before he managed to land an outrageous drop goal from the 10 metre line.
Casuals forwards were very much to the fore in the second half, although it took Casuals another 15 minutes before they were able to score again.
Winning yet another scrum, new signing Liam Annable, picked up from the rear off the scrum, he ran forward, deftly popping the ball up to the support, and Henry Franklin raced through the gap for
the touchdown, Higgins converting.
Casuals again employed the wind to put up another testing kick, and from the resultant melee on Dronfields 5 metre, wing Jamie Baxter went over for the third try.
It seemed as time might run out for Casuals to find the 4th try, but with only moments to go, the forwards contrived to win the ball against the head in a scrum, and
Davies-Jones again launched another hanging chip over the defence.
Dronfield were hesitant in defence, probably losing the ball in the badly fading light, and James Wood happily dropped on the ball for Casuals’ bonus point score.

The next fixture is away to Stourbridge Lions in the Midlands RFU Intermediate cup, where they hope they can continue this good form, and progress their run

Thanks for the party, and the carolling.
Great turnout, fantastic fancy dress, and some of the jumpers, well, a sight to behold
Hope Beeston survived the visit of the Casuals Choral Ensemble. First reports suggest that even the Greyhound were happy to see them.
The style Police were not quite so happy, especially with the drag act. Not quite a fair maiden in the Santa frock, the worrying bit is there are more outfits in the cupboard. Last seen being chased by a octagenerion on a zimmer

Final note.

Good luck to Vice Captain Tom Lightfoot, leaving Casuals, as he takes up an appointment in Brighton

Duhhh - Great report in the Nottingham Evening Post. Apparently, we have a new player, Davies-Wood