Amber Valley 5 Nottingham Casuals 43

12 February 2011

Midlands 3 East North

Amber Valley 5 Nottingham Casuals 43

Casuals came back with a bang from the previous week’s disappointing “prima donna” showing , with a response that wasn’t just based on a minor change in personnel, but a huge change in attitude.
So maybe the phrase “prima donnas” can now be put firmly to bed.
Awreet yawth!
They showed their intent early on, and scored some superb tries throughout the afternoon. The pack provided ample ball for the backs to display their running skills, and the team showed their true ability.
Amber Valley were temporaily reduced to 14 men, after only 4 minutes, when Mark Higgins was blocked running a quick penalty, and from the next penalty Casuals drove AV back over the goal line, Ben Wells emerging from the pile of players claiming the touchdown.

Play continued in AV’s half as Casuals piled on more pressure, Will Drewe then claimed Higgins kick ahead, and the ball was passed to Brody Howatson, and he clutched the ball from above his head, to shoot through to the line for the try wide out, which Higgins converted with a superb kick into the wind. (Well dun Higginssss)

AV kicked to Ben Wells from the kick off, and he ran straight through some defenders, linking up with Chris Brelsford, who in turn took the ball on deep into AV’s half, and he popped a sweetly timed pass back inside for Howatson, who then
had simple run in for the try.

The next try was and even better piece of timing. “Bullet” Ben Hallam came up from full back at pace, and the timing of the pass put him through a huge gap, and he needed no second invitation to hare off under the posts. Higgins again converted, giving Casuals a 24 to nil half time lead and the bonus point.

The second half carried on as the first.

Higgins made a huge break, and Ben Wells was on hand to finish the move with the next try.
At this point however Amber Valley staged a mini revival, with a bit of Casuals forward type play. They kept possession of the ball, and worked the ball upfield to eventually get over for a try.

But the revival was short lived, as Casuals took control again, and try as they might Amber Valley could not wrestle the possession away from Casuals.

Casuals forwards, as they had done for most of the game, continued to win possession, and feed their backs more good ball.

A penalty was used to good effect as the forwards moved the ball upfield, and when it was released, Will Drewe ran at the AV defence put Hallam away, with yet another beautifully timed pass, and he ran ½ the length of the pitch totally untouched. Higgins once again converted.

The final try came with Casuals down to 14 men, the ref brandishing another yellow card for persistent infringement, a certain person only being on the field a matter of minutes, before being sent to the sidelines.

It however made no great difference to the game, and Higgins took off on a zig-zag run, falling over a couple of times into the bargain, and when he had finally confused everyone, he eventually put Brelsford away down the right, and his powerful run took him past the wilting defence for the final try, which Higgins converted.

A highly satisfying win, which is keeping the 2 other contenders for the title at arms length. But there is still plenty of work to do, starting next week at home to Sleaford.