Nottingham Casuals 14 Newark 21

22nd October 2016

Midlands 2 East North
Nottingham Casuals 14 Newark 21

Casuals had a fair battle with relegated Newark, coming very close to pulling off the win, but ending up win a losing bonus in the dying moments.

Casuals were put under immense pressure for the first 6 or 7 minutes, but their defence was up to the task.
A breeze in Newark’s favour prevented Casuals being able to make much ground with their clearing kicks, so they had to work their way upfield through passing moves.
Unfortunately they were not able to capitalise as they knocked on to stop a promising move.
Casuals then strayed off-side,and Newark were awarded a penalty 35 metres out in front of the posts and they took a 3 point lead.
Newark maintained the pressure but only some poor handling prevented them from increasing their lead.

Just when Casuals looked as if they might get back into the game, as the pack started to win some decent possession, a midfield move was messed up and a collision between 2 Casuals players allowed the ball to go loose, and Newark pounce to regain the ball, taking play up to Casuals’ goal line.
A yellow card against Casual’ hooker Oli Mott for straying offside, then put them under more pressure, which Newark converted into try wide out.

A poor kick off then allowed Newark to take play back into Casuals’ half, and Newark backs slickly transferred the ball to get in for another try.

Undaunted Casuals went deep with a kick to touch, but with the line looming, the ball was knocked on giving vital possession back to Newark.
A quickly taken penalty again saw Casuals get back on the offensive, and the pressure finally told when Liam Annable took the ball over the line from a superb maul to make the score 5 points to 13.
But Casuals’ joy was short-lived as they managed to give possession straight back to Newark by knocking on the kick off, then they were penalised for a blatant offside, and Newark put over yet another penalty.

Casuals were back on the defensive from the start of the second half. Newark managed to fly hack a loose a ball downfield, and it was looking a bit ominous. Casuals extricated themselves from their own half, and after 15 minutes really took play to Newark, keeping them pinned back, but just unable to break the defence.
Waves of attacking play gave Casuals no reward, until eventually Newark gave a penalty themselves, and Mark Higgins put Casuals into bonus point territory with a successful kick.

Casuals then suffered from what can only be called a refereeing faux-pas.
Casuals had been dominating at the set piece throughout, their lineout being extremely efficient. When they took a great ball at a lineout, which should have allowed Casuals to get a move going, the tap down was caught by a Newark forward standing blatantly offside between Casuals’ forwards and their scrum half, and he was allowed to trundle forward. The move took play down to Casuals goal line and a forward lumbered over the line for the third try, briefly taking away the losing bonus point score for Casuals.
It should never have stood, but such is Casuals’ luck at the moment.

To their credit they once again went upfield again, but again try as they may they could not get over for the try, and it was left to Mark Higgins to convert a late penalty to at least give Casuals the satisfaction of one league point.

On this showing, and previous weeks’ displays, it can’t be long before Casuals get their just reward, by winning the one game that will spark their season into life.
They need to just cut out some of the mistakes, and keep their nerve.
With the forwards playing so well, Casuals have had enough ball, but they must learn to retain possession, and maybe play a good old fashioned passing game, and leave some of the fancy moves behind.

It would help if they got some decisions in their favour, as it must be difficult to understand, especially some of the penalties awarded against them. Worse when some are not even in the law book.
(I refer to a previous game in that respect)

4 losing bonus points shows how close Casuals have come

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