Casuals 54 v Tupton 7

Saturday 15th September 2018

Casuals 54 points Tupton 7
Casuals welcomed newly promoted Tupton to Canalside, for the first ever league between the 2 sides, but the hosts were fully focused, running in 8 tries with 7 conversions to Tupton’s 1 penalty try.
Putting the early season nerves from the previous week’s game behind them, Casuals were on top from the outset.
Casuals had to re-arrange the starting line up due to injuries and absenteeism from the previous week, but the new formation gelled brilliantly (well done the walking wounded who turned up to watch)
The forwards ensured a good supply of ball from the set pieces, the line out working extremely efficiently throughout.
The forwards were rewarded for their mauling technique, the first 3 tries coming from some concerted drives, shoving Tupton back in open play.
Matt Fox crossed in the 12th minute, followed 2 tries from hooker Ali Shaw in the 26th & 29th minutes, 2 converted by Mark Higgins.
The first half scoring was rounded off by a try and conversion from scrum half Higgins, the score coming from another maul by the forwards.
The second half opened with a try from full back Brodie Howatson, with a trademark solo run, weaving through the covering Tupton defence, then sprinting away to dot down totally unchallenged. Higgins added the conversion.
Unfortunately Casuals allowed Tupton back into the game when centre Manny Cammarata was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on under Casuals’ posts, and awarded a penalty try, earning the Casuals man a yellow card.
Undeterred, Casuals pressed home their advantage with a Steve Naylor run setting up Alex Brownlie for a try 7 minutes later.
Another run by Naylor, following good ball from the back of a scrum, saw him cross for his first league try of the season.
In between, Tupton were reduced to 14 men, as the ref produced his yellow card again, binning a player for a soft and silly tip tackle.
The final try came from a lineout in Tupton’s 22, the ball was moved away to midfield, then switched back to the right, prop and man of the match Alex Hawkins providing lurking lock Simon Roberts with a clear run down the right wing for a rare try.
Higgins converted all 4 tries
Casuals line up included a debut for Arron Williams on the wing, Adam Errington returning from a lengthy working absence in sunnier climes with Simon Roberts, returning from honeymoon, no doubt hoping for an injury free run, being absent last season for a long spell.

1. Alex Hawkins Man of the match
2. Alastair Shaw. 2 tries
3. Stephen Baraniak
4. Simon Roberts 1 try
5. Matthew Fox 1 try
6. Jon Ackroyd
7. Andy Harris
8. Stu Williams (C)
9. Mark Higgins 1 try ,7 conversions
10. James Wood (VC)
11. Aaron Williams
12. Alex Brownlie 1 try
13. Emanuelé Cammarata ?
14. Stephen Naylor. 1 try
15. Brodie Howatson 1 try
16. Richard Gill. Prop sub
17. Ryan Lenihan
18. Adam Errington