Melbourne 17 Nottingham Casuals 16

10 October 2016

Midlands 2 East North

Melbourne 17 Nottingham Casuals 16

Once again Casuals showed what they are capable of, only to lose in the last few seconds to a very controversial penalty.

Casuals took a 2 penalty lead, with kicks by Mark Higgins, but Melbourne came back with a converted try, after a pushover scrum.
They increased their lead with the simplest of tries, a run straight through the middle from their full back, some very poor defending letting him through.
Casuals then reduced the deficit when Joe Barton went up the 5m tramline to touch down and Higgins converted from very wide out.
A penalty from 4o metres gave Casuals a 2 point lead, and they held on to this for 20 minutes before the referee penalised Casuals twice, moving play into kicking range, and Melbourne scraped the win with the penalty kick.

The forwards should take great heart from their display, as they dominated for most of the game, shoving Melbourne around in the scrums, and their open play was excellent.

The RJH conversion specialists man of the match in this Rothera Sharp solicitors sponsored game, nominated by Melbourne, was captain Mark Higgins,