Market Bosworth 38 Casuals 25

Market Bosworth 38 Nottingham Casuals 25

Casuals let slip a lead to finish with just a 4 try bonus point, which unfortunately means that Casuals are bottom of the table after 2 games.
However a much improved performance from the previous week showed they are more than capable to come good in the division.

Market Bosworth took the lead after 3 minutes converting a penalty kick, but Casuals took the game to the opposition, and they were rewarded with a penalty, that Higgins converted from in front of the posts , 35 metres out.
Market Bosworth came back on the attack from a scrum midfield, and a chip ahead bounced horribly away from the defence straight to a Bosworth player who deftly slipped the ball back to a support runner who went in for the try, which was converted.
Casuals forwards then put together a good passage of play, and the ball was worked upfield, and winger Dan O’Connor showed his pace to get in for his debut try for the club.
Unfortunately the kick was missed, which would have levelled the scores.

O’Connor was instrumental in the next try. Casuals won a scrum and the ball was worked out, with O’Connor going through in the centre, and just as the move seemed to be halted, he managed to offload the ball to Jamie Baxter who had a clear run in.
Higgins added the extra 2 points to give Casuals the lead.
Bosworth hit back in the dying seconds with a penalty, their kicker displaying unerring accuracy with his attempts on goal, so Casuals held a slender 2 point lead at half time.

The 2nd half was not quite the start Casuals wanted as substitute hooker Alastair Shaw was yellow carded within a minute of making his debut for the 1sts, something he will no doubt be reminded of in the future.
Casuals picked themselves up from that setback, and it was Brodie Howatson following up a kick that put Bosworth on the defensive as he caught the defender.
Casuals were awarded a scrum wide out on the left, and Liaam Annable picked up from No 8, and when a maul developed he crashed over for the try. Unfortunately the conversion missed.
Bosworth came straight back into the game, attacking down the left of the pitch, then moving the point of attack to the right wing, some sloppy defence giving their winger a fairly easy run in to the corner.
Bosworth’s kicker boomed the conversion over and then followed that up with another penalty kick.
Minutes after, buoyed by regaining the lead, Bosworth confidently attacked again, and they scored yet another try.

Casuals showed they had the stomach for the fight.
When they kicked a penalty to touch, their reliable lineout work secured the ball, and it was full back Hallam who shimmied his way through in centre field for the try.
With the try unconverted, Casuals were 3 points behind.
Casuals had their tails up and went on the attack again, but cruelly the ball was stripped from the carrier’s hands, and Bosworth ran the ball back from their own 22, for a converted try, denying Casuals the losing bonus point.
The referee then gave a penalty for a high tackle against Casuals, and Bosworth ever reliable kicker sealed the game with another kick through the posts, giving them an undeserved 13 point winning margin.

Casuals were left wondering whether the referee had lost his yellow card, given the number of persistent ball killing offences around the rucks and mauls committed by Bosworth in the second half. Fair play if you can get away with it, but Tom Daley would have been proud of some of the diving over, especially the number 9's attempt which in any other game would easily have earned a 10 minute break. All that can be asked for is the fair application of the laws.

The RJH Loft Conversions Man of the Match was Liaam Annable, who played through the pain barrier, before finally succumbing in the second half, after one of his now customary barn storming performances.

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