Ashfield 11 Nottingham Casuals 63

Saturday March 19th 2011
Midlands 3 East North
Ashfield 11 Nottingham Casuals 63

Another bonus point win for Casuals, in a nine try romp keeping them in
pole position in the league.
Higgins scores a hat trick in a personal 33 points haul (2 penalties, 3
tries & 6 conversions)
Ben Hallam, Brodie Howatson scored 1try each, Josh Tilford & Gareth
Austin 2 tries each

Casuals warmed up for their game against 2nd placed Ashbourne with a
drubbing of bottom placed Ashfield.

Despite a fairly slow start, Casuals still managed tries from Ben
Hallam, Mark Higgins and Josh Tilford, with 2 penalties and 1
conversion by Higgins before half time. Ashfield only managed 2
penalties, leaving the score at 6 – 23 at the turn.
Higgins kicked a simple penalty after 2 minutes, and this was followed
by a try in the corner by Ben Hallam. A maul right field was taken on
and went the ball went out, Hallam rode several tackles to claim the
score wide out left.
Ashfield briefly came back with a penalty, with Higgins responding,
before Ashfield kicked a second.
But it was nearly all Casuals as they kept Ashfield pinned back.
A kick deep into Asahfield’s 22 saw a scrum taken by Casuals, and
Higgins whipped in on the narrow side for his first try.
More good ball from the forwards as they kept the Ashfield defence
busy, and despite a move nearly breaking down because of a rubbish pass
midfield, Howatson picked up the loose ball, he passed to Chris
Brelsford who sent Josh Tilford through, and despite several tacklers
hanging on, he manfully strode to the line looking like someone wading through thick mud.
Higgins topped that off with a kick from near touch.
H/T 6 - 23

The second half saw a different picture, with Casuals scoring 6 more
tries.
Higgins completed his hat trick and added 5 conversions, with tries by
Gareth Austin (2), Tilford, & Howatson.
The first score came courtesy of Ben Hallam, who caught a poor
clearance kick and ran straight back, the ball found its way to Gareth
Austin who dropped in at the corner, Higgins adding another great
conversion.
Howatson then set up the next move when he picked a ball midfield, he
then linked with Hallam, who put Austin in for his second, Higgins
adding another beaut of a conversion.
When Ashfield were punished for offside, Higgins pushed play into the
corner and from the resultant lineout, Tilford was in the mix in the
middle of the maul to touch down.
Casuals went to sleep briefly and Ashfield drove a maul over for their
only try.
Howatson got Casuals back on track when he went straight through in the
centre from Casuals half, and outpaced everyone for the touchdown,
giving Higgins an easy shot at goal.
The next try came out of an Ashfield attack. Ben Wells stripped the
Ashfield ball carrier as they attacked in Casuals 22, he then burst
through numerous tackles before feeding Higgins, who went route 1 centre
field with the defence floundering in his wake. He completed the score
with yet another conversion.
The same two players were involved in the last score.
Casuals forwards easily won a scrum, Wells broke from the back, and a
simple but precise pop pass sent Higgins away again. Not so far this
time, but he ran clean through, converting again

With 3rd placed Melbourne going down to a defeat at Grimsby, there is
now a little daylight showing, but Casuals have got to keep winning to
ensure the title comes to Canalside.