Nottingham Casuals 1st v Tupton.

Casuals opened 2019 by winning 10 - 38 away at Tupton, and gaining yet another try bonus point, the 10th in 12 games.
After a very shaky 1st half, for a time trailing Tupton 10 points to 7, Casuals put the result beyond doubt, in a much improved 2nd half display.
Casuals’ first visit to Tupton in the league, did not go as smoothly as could be hoped, but in the end Casuals crossed for 6 tries. Casuals have now opened a gap of 16 points over second placed Belper.
Casuals had opportunities to open the scoring early on, but their attempts were thwarted with a below par performance at lineouts.
They came closest when Brodie Howatson failed in his attempt to get the touch down from a kick ahead.
Thereafter a number of lineouts close to Tupton’s line went awry.
It took 27 minutes for Casuals to get the first score.
A bit of luck gave Casuals possession. Moving the ball away from a ruck, Tupton dropped the ball which fell at the feet of Matt Fox. He picked up,and with Tupton stranded, he raced away covering 40 metres, touching down under the posts, for Mark Higgins to add the extras. (1)
Unfortunately Fox was forced off a few minutes later with a serious shoulder injury, which could see him out of action for a few weeks.
Tupton struck back minutes later when Casuals conceded a penalty, and Tupton put the kick over.
To add to Casuals misery, they continued to lose their own possession at lineouts, most importantly, most were near to Tupton’s line from kicks to touch, as Tupton conceded a stream of penalties, giving Casuals great field position.
To make it even worse, Tupton put together an attack, going down the right wing, evading a string of defenders, and eventually getting through for a converted try. 10 - 7
Shortly before ½ time Casuals won a lineout inside their own half from a Tupton throw in.
Jon Ackroyd grabbed the misdirected ball, linking with Kieran Maisonnet, who then made a telling break before a short offload gave Higgins the smallest of gaps, allowing him to slice through and outstrip Tupton’s defenders. He converted his own try,(2) and Casuals took a 4 point lead into the second half.
After ½ time Casuals lead looked a little frail, as they were facing a slope, which could have been a telling factor.
Casuals were not fazed by the incline, and as their confidence returned, they continued their practiced ploy of taking kicks to touch from penalties, with Tupton being very obliging in conceding penalties, eventually leading to a yellow.
6 minutes in. Casuals again gained territory, and the ball was transferred from the lineout, James Wood found a large gap to canter in for the third try.
Tupton briefly came back, getting to Casuals’ line, being awarded a 5 metre scrum. Fortunately for Casuals, they failed to take advantage, and play quickly came back into Tupton’s half.
Casuals managed to cross the try line, but a 5 metre scrum was awarded, the ref deeming the ball was held up. It only held up the scoring briefly, when the ball was shipped down the 3s to Alex Brownlie, he went clean through putting in a run to near the corner for the try, (4) (and the bonus point) Higgins converting from near the touchline.
Unfortunately Brownlie later had to leave the field, yet another shoulder injury for a Casuals’ player.
Casuals were beginning to dominate, and the forwards showed increasing confidence. A now customary drive from a lineout, this time from the 22, gained Casuals a penalty when Tupton pulled the maul down. The lineout was again driven, and Graeme Roberts had the simple task to touch down at the back of the maul for Casuals’ 5th try.
Casuals were now well on top, and with Tupton conceding more penalties, it was inevitable that Casuals would score again.
Winning the ball against the head, Casuals put the ball down the 3s, and then more by good luck, a misjudged attempted kick ahead far too close to the defenders, rebounded off a Tupton player, (might not be so lucky next time) and Liam Tighe reacted swiftly to grab the rebound, running through and a long foot race saw him cross for the 6th try, which Higgins again converted.
So from a fairly dismal 1st half, Casuals showed why they are top of the league, but need to sort out the niggly mistakes for next weekend, when they meet Moderns at Canalside.

1. Alex Hawkins
2. Pete Underwood
3. Steve Baraniak
4. Kieran Maisonnet
5. Jon Ackroyd
6. Henry Franklin
7. Graeme Roberts
8. Matt Fox

9. Mark Higgins
10. James Wood (VC)
11. Kris Jakuba
12. Alex Brownlie
13. Dan O’Connor
14. Niall O'Kane
15. Brodie Howatson (C)

16. Richard Gill
17. Andy Harris??¿?
18. Liam Tighe