Another bonus point win

31st March 2013

Midlands 2 East North
Aylestone St James 19 Nottingham Casuals 29

Duracell Bunny scores a try, setting up the Casuals win.

I heard Casuals described as a bit of a mish-mash of a side, but after that game, nothing of the sort. Every man played their part, coming away with a try bonus point win. It should have been easy, with Jimmies stranded at the bottom of league and already relegated, but to their credit, they showed they were not going quietly.

Casuals opened the game with some concerted play in Jimmies half, and only 3 minutes had gone, when Seb Donk got to the line for the touchdown, with Mark Higgins adding the conversion. And just a few minutes later he converted a long range penalty.

Jimmies were kept at bay with determined Casuals tackling, and even when the first line of defence was broken there was always someone there to halt the attack.

Casuals’ forwards kept up the pressure, and Jimmies were forced back, defending their line grimly. Unfortunately during this passage of play, Casuals lost prop Andy Binks due to knee injury. But thankfully it did not change the game, with his replacement, James Earley being a 1st team regular this season.

Casuals continued to dominate proceedings and when they launched another attack, Higgins was taken high, resulting in a penalty, which he put into touch on Jimmies 22.
Typically unconventional, Higgins took the shortest route from the throw in, straight through the forwards in the lineout, and raced away to touch down and convert the try himself, giving Casuals a healthy lead.

Jimmies then came back with a well taken try themselves. Casuals were penalised, and possibly not realising what the ref had actually blown for, they were not quick enough to stop the forward run from the tapped kicked, and Jimmies went in for a converted try.

In the second half the home side seemed rejuvenated, and it was their forwards who trundled up-field to cross for a converted try.

It was another 20 minutes before Casuals got their score moving. Despite managing to gain some territory, they were unable to break Jimmies defenses. It was a beautifully constructed backs move that put Mark “Duracell Bunny|” Hobson through a huge gap to gleefully touch down.
As Casuals had lost skipper Higgins due to injury, Seb Donk was given the task of taking the conversion, which he put over with ease.

There was a shuffle round because of the injury. Henry Franklin took over as Captain, Dave Mellor moved to scrum half, and Barny Ward came up to outside half, none of the changes being at all detrimental.

Then came possibly the try of the game, for the bonus point.
2nd row, Joe Barton made a break through Jimmies defences, and his pounding run was not stopped for another 40 metres. He then found hooker James Kittow scampering up in support, to take the ball on to the try line, for a well deserved score. (Could that be the his first try for the 1sts?)

Casuals had built up a substantial lead, but Jimmies showed that they weren’t finished, and when they got to Casuals line, their forwards took play over for an unconverted try.

The players should all be congratulated, not least those who answered the call, travelling from their far away destinations to help out.(Gareth all the way back from Wales - should be thankful for the call then!!!) Due to the postponement the previous week, this game had to be played as soon as possible, and Easter Saturday had been deemed as a spare weekend in the league, which in the circumstances worked out well for Casuals, but many players had made alternative arrangements.

On a lighter note, the Hobson clan were represented both on and off the pitch, with younger son Cole (ref, ref, oh ref****) taking his place, alongside father Mark, with Paul Greensmith a close “associate” starting on the wing.

The club could be saying goodbye to Antonios Alexiou, who after a short time at the club, may be forced to leave in search of a job. Good luck