Nottingham Moderns 22 Nottingham Casuals 22

8th Oct 2011
Midlands 2 East (North)

Nottingham Moderns 22 Nottingham Casuals 22

Trentside derby finishes in a draw after a pulsating game at Wilford.

Casuals and Moderns met in the league for the first time in years, as the league new boys travelled to Moderns, hoping to emulate last season’s cup success.

Casuals had to withstand early pressure, managing to hold out until Moderns kicked a penalty.
It was then Casuals turn to test Moderns defences, and they eventually managed to get on the scoreboard when the forwards won possession from a scrum, the ball going out to winger Steve Naylor, who ran through, then kicked ahead for Ben Hallam to win the race for the touch down.
With the wind and slope in their favour in the second half, it looked as if Casuals would have the better of Moderns, but the hosts were the first to score.
An upfield punt was not fielded and the bounce and wind!! took the ball back to the Moderns attackers, and they ran in unchallenged for a converted try.
Casuals were then penalised for what the referee adjudged a deliberate knock on, and Moderns put the resultant kick into the corner. They mauled over from the lineout for another 5 points.
However, bad handling which had been plaguing Moderns, played its part in Casuals comeback.
Charlie Bradwell had only just come on as a sub, and his first touch was to hack the loose ball downfield past a the Moderns winger, who tripped over his own laces,winning the footrush for the touchdown. Mark Higgins added the conversion.
Casuals took the lead after a lineout ball was slickly passed down the line, and Hallam cut through for his second try, which Higgins converted.
However Moderns weren’t finished, and when they were awarded a kick, the Moderns wing forward had the presence of mind to run the ball quickly, and Casuals were caught napping, Moderns getting a converted try to restore their lead.,
With time running out, and with a 3 point deficit, Casuals took the option to kick at goal when awarded a penalty, which Higgins put over gratefully settling for the draw, giving both sides 2 league points