Casuals 45 Coalville 10

10th December 2016

Midlands 2 East (N)
Casuals 45 Coalville 10

2nd from bottom at the start of the game, Casuals made 7 changes to the line up, and the new look side came up trumps as they thrashed 4th place Coalville, moving several places up the league with this resounding home win.

The opening few passages of play saw Casuals on the attack, gaining territorial advantage. The first real move down the backs saw the ball go into touch, but Casuals were then awarded a penalty just inside Coalville’s half, and James Wood rifled a low skimmer over the bar for 3 points, from what must have been 47 metres.
Play fluctuated a bit for a while, as neither side really managed to set anything up, and Coalville eventually managed to level the score with a penalty.
Unfortunately shortly after Casuals defences were caught napping, and Coalville went through for the easiest of converted tries.
That was a remiscent of the recent defensive display at Ashbourne, and looked a bit ominous.
Wrong, Casuals tightened the defence, and that was the last clear chance for Coalville.

Casuals then managed to find some rhythm to their game, as the revamped backline began to gell, and Casuals showed their determination with some charging runs.
The first clear break came when no. 10 Barney Sears went through, and then it was the turn of centre Thomas Martin, his run taking him close to Coalville’s goal line, a maul developed and Josh Newton sneaked in for the try, with Wood adding the simple conversion.
10 apiece at half time, and anticipation of what might be to come. Casuals have been this close at half time on several occasions, this season, but have never managed to up their game to get the win.

What unfolded in the second half was totally unforeseen.

The first scoreof the half came from a scrum 5 metres out, the ball was moved down the backs line, but the move was sloppy, and with the ball being dropped it seemed to go nowhere, but possession was recovered, and Rhys Allin managed to get a pass to Sears who crossed wide out.
Wood then blasted the conversion from wide out, giving Casuals a slight cushion.

The next try was some individual skill, as Jack Weedon picked up a loose ball, and he simply fended off the defenders, barging through the first line of players, and then sped away for a superb score. Wood simply had to nudge the kick over for the 7 pointer.

Then came a daft point in the game,
Joe Barton covering back put in a crushing tackle on the player who had just evaded him on a kick chase, and from the ensuing loose play, there was bout of handbags, with people posturing and puffing their chests out, with the referee eventually red carding a visitor for a bit of absolute silliness.

The game settled down a bit after that, but not before some very unnecessary mouthing off. What was the point??

Back to the game, and a few minutes later Ben Hallam went clean through and what is now his trademark, a lovely pop pass to him running flat out, and a totally clear run to the line, untouched. Wood again added the extra 2 points, and at 31 points to 10, there was now clear day light. (Bonus point score)
Casuals could not possibly go wrong from here, and 2 more scores sealed it.

Weedon then ran onto a pop pass, and he again handed off the would be tacklers to scorch in for the 5th try with Wood again making sure with the conversion.

Then the final act of the afternoon was for debut boy Rhys Allin to leave the defence for dead as he went in wide out on his wing, and James Wood capped off his afternoon was a superb conversion from near touch, on his wrong side, the kick sailing through, to give Casuals a resounding win, 5 league points, and joy to the gathered Casuals’ past players, including many of the Womens’ side of yesteryear, having been served a feast before the game, and finished off with a fine display by the players.

Great result, superb day, let’s see more of the same.

The RJH conversion specialists man of the match in this Rothera Sharp solicitors sponsored game was Josh Newton, although Jack Weedon was not far behind.