Ashbourne 21 Casuals 19

14th September
Midlands 2 East North
Round 1
Ashbourne 21 Casuals 19

Casuals returned to Midlands 2 East North with a fixture against old foe Ashbourne, a game which has often resulted in very close scores, and history repeated itself.
However, the way the game panned out, left Casuals disappointed but not downhearted. The manner of the loss, letting Ashbourne in for a converted try in the very last seconds of the game, was cruel. Conceding a penalty when in control of possession, and trying to play down the clock, was not what Casuals had planned.
The question of course was “if only”, oft asked in previous seasons.
One more penalty kick here, one more conversion there.
After dragging themselves back from a 14 point deficit at half time, Casuals 2nd half display was in complete contrast to the first half, and they should take great heart for that.
The slope in Casuals’ favour in the second half, was of help, but the mindset was more important.

Ashbourne scored their 1st try in the 7th minute.
They had pressured Casuals, keeping possession, eventually went in for a 7 pointer.

Casuals responded, taking play back to Ashbourne, but try as they did, too many handling errors cost Casuals valuable ground. Casuals had the opportunity to reduce the arrears, but a penalty kick at goal was missed.
It was a sloppy misdirected pass in attack by Casuals, that gifted Ashbourne the ball.
They ripped through the static defence, running from halfway, to register their second goal.

Turning round 14 points down, which really did not look enough of a lead, taking into account the slope in favour of Casuals, and the way they had contested play in the first half.

It was not long before Casuals went in for their first score. Pinning Ashbourne back, Casuals skipper, No 8 Stu Williams pounded through for the try, which was converted.

Casuals very soon followed this up with their second. Keeping the momentum, Casuals pushed Ashbourne back.
Maintaining possession, they eventually made room for centre James Wood to run in, and debutant no 10, Stu Bagley added the conversion.

All square and it was looking good for Casuals as they started to dominate their hosts.
Ashbourne were living off scraps, and could not repel Casuals attacks.

Moving the ball about, Casuals worked their way down field, and back rower Clement Chardin went in at the corner, to give Casuals a 5 point lead.
It was all looking good, and had Casuals maintained the control they had exerted, the game was there for the taking.
Ashbourne briefly threatened from mainly Casuals’ errors.

One of the last plays of the game, where Casuals had only to play keep ball, or bang it downfield to take play away from their try line, they managed to give away a penalty in their own 22. Ashbourne accepted the gift, and they shipped the ball out to the right wing for a try wide out, and any hopes of a draw were dashed as Ashbourne converted from wide out.

TEAM
15 BRODIE HOWATSON
14 NIALL O’KANE
13 CHRIS BRELSFORD
12 JAMES WOOD
11 RILEY DANNY

10 BAGLEY STUART
9 MARK HIGGINS

8 STUART WILLIAMS
7 CLEMENT CHARDIN
6 BARRY HARDING

5 JON ACKROYD
4 KIERAN MAISONNET

3 BOB PARRY
2 STEVE BARANIAK
1 ALEX HAWKINS

16 ANTO JEFFERY
17 CARL NORMAN
18 TIGHE LIAM

Very disappointing to lose, when they had the win within their grasp.