1st half performance the key

12 January 2013

Midlands 2 East North

Dronfield 31 Nottingham Casuals 5

Casuals first half performance gave them a mountain to climb in the second half, but it was a measure of their spirit that Dronfield scored 4 tries in the first half, and only one in the second.
The players did not engage in any silly play, and Dronfield made the best of their opportunities.
Dronfield’s pack were superior in the set pieces, with Casuals outweighed by the opposition enormously, so it did not help their cause when nearly every scrum was on the move before the put in.

After conceding a really soft try on 14 minutes by simply not getting the defensive cover in place, Casuals were put under pressure not only by Dronfield, but by an official who penalised Casuals for perceived offences, some of which do not appear in the law book.

Dronfield’s second try came after another 10 minutes. After a move which involved a massive forward pass, Dronfield went over from a 5 metre scrum.

Casuals to their credit came back upfield, and when they won a lineout, they pushed the Dronfield forwards back in the maul, and Tim McNaughton went over for the try.

Casuals were penalised for several offences which kept them pinned back, Graeme Robert’s anger was plain to see when he ripped the ball from a prone player in a perfectly legitimate manner, and then Mark Hobson was deemed to have knocked a ball down, when he palmed it back from a loose Dronfield pass, and Casuals were left defending on their own line.
This finally resulted in another try for Dronfield.

Yet another huge forward pass took Dronfield’s backs past Casuals defenders, and this led to Dronfield’s 4th try.
Even the Dronfield spectators commented on the distance it went forward, but no-one is going turn down opportunities like that.

Casuals players were almost apoplectic by half time, as they were unable to gain any ground. Dronfield’s backs stifled a lot of Casuals moves by coming up past the offside lines, and despite all Casual’s efforts they turned round
24 – 5 down.

The second half saw Casuals come into the game, but they again were unable to cross the line.
GraemeRoberts was denied a score, when the referee called play back for a scrum. If advantage had been played it would have been a totally justified score, but that was a typical example of their “luck” during the game, and despite managing to get some good attacks going, they were just unable to recycle the ball at times to complete the moves.

When the referee failed to give Casuals a penalty at a ruck, with Dronfield killing the ball, Casuals lost ground, and were forced on the defensive for the latter part of the game.

Eventually with time running out Dronfield managed to work some space, and scored the final try.

It was unjust for Casuals to lose by this margin, as they did enough to keep it to a tight score, but when things go against you, sometimes it better just to forget the experience, and think of the positives that came out of the game.
To give Dronfield their due, they played on the line and got away with it. They were a little bit more street wise on the day.

However just this once I can share the Casuals players' chagrin, as all they can ask it get a fair crack of the whip.

Next week there is a break from the league, but 26th sees the visit of Nuneaton OEs.
There will be a buffet lunch before the game, so weather permitting, come and support the lads.

p.s. Only one helping of the buffet, chaps, let me get some food this time