Casuals 27 Ashbourne 26

25th March 2017
Midlands 2 East (North)

Casuals 27 Ashbourne 26
Casuals eased their relegation worries and managed not only to come back from a first half deficit, but they got revenge for the 9 - 3 try mauling away at Ashbourne earlier in the season, and possibly dinting 4th placed Ashbourne's bid for promotion
But, it did not look that Casuals were going to come out winners at all, when they were quickly pegged back by an early penalty after only 2 minutes. Penalised just inside their half, the referee took exception to something, and the extra 10 metres gave the Ashbourne kicker an easy pot at goal, with the wind at his back.
Casuals held possession for 5 minutes, but then Ashbourne took a lineout, and the 3's took play upfield, the ball carrier was stopped just short, but managed to twist over for the touchdown, with a conversion to follow. 10 points to nil
Casuals showed their metal, and second row Joe Barton made a telling break, he found support, and the ball was spun out long to Brody Howatson, and he went in for an unconverted try.
Casuals then set up some good attacks, and Steve Naylor made good ground on the left wing, but the attack was stopped with a scrum to Ashbourne.
The comeback was brief.
Ashbourne were awarded a penalty just inside Casuals 10m , and they potted another penalty to increase their lead.
The referee then adjudged that Steve Naylor had unfairly challenged an Ashbourne man whilst chasing & jumping for the ball from the kick off (sorry disagreed with that one, right in front), then Liam Annable was penalised for his quick thinking, when he went for the ball as it rolled away from a breakdown, and Ashbourne hit another penalty over the sticks.
Ashbourne's next attack was wasted, and Casuals came down field following a kick to touch.
Casuals got possession just inside their half, and Jack Weedon showed his power, as he simply pushed away tacklers, and burst through numerous challenges to run in for a try from near on 50 metres .10 - 16
Just after the half hour Naylor used his strength and speed to get past the defence, and when the ball went loose, Dan O'Conner hacked ahead, with Steve John eventually getting through to the try line, and Mark Higgins had the simple task of converting to put Casuals into the lead.
Casuals confidence seemed to rise, but they were still being penalised for being too competitive in the breakdown, but the final penalty kick at the sticks from Ashbourne bounced off the side of the post, and half time saw Casuals turn round just one point in front.
Casuals made a positive start to the second half, and they managed to stay deep in Ashbourne's half.
But they simply could not keep hold of the ball, with a number of knocks on, relieving the pressure on Ashbourne.
Eventually the pressure told. Casuals shipped the ball out form a lineout, and a loop move gave Naylor the room to get in at the corner.
Higgins converted from the touchline to give Casuals a deserved 8 point lead.
Then Ashbourne showed their determination to make a fight of it, and the help of more penalties against Casuals , and despite Casuals massive rear guard defensive work, Ashbourne closed the gap with yet another penalty kick through the posts.
Higgins restored the advantage with a penalty kick, but this seemed only to spur Ashbourne to another height, and despite Casuals best efforts, the visitors put Casuals under siege in their 22.
Casuals were not helped by a late yellow card against Antonios (The Spaniard) Alexiou, and Ashbourne took full advantage to cross for a converted try.
Tense moments as Casuals grimly held on for what seemed an eternity, eventually putting the ball out to record a much deserved win, and the 5 league points that went with it.

It is sometimes difficult to understand why there is such a huge disparity between referees interpretation of the law at breakdowns, as one week anything goes, and then another week, players only have to look at the ball to be penalised.
It must be difficult for players to adjust to what the blinkered supporters might see as fair refereeing. Are the players made aware when it is a tackle, a maul or a ruck, or in some cases just a muck.
Is there needless penalising of players, because they just don't know, and the game is consistently being broken up by zealous refs.
All answers on a post card please.

And after all of that the RJH Conversions man of the match was ----------- Antonios Alexiou, who was forced to imbibe more than his fair share as punishment for his late misdemeanour
Καλοψημένο (hope that's not rude)