Another tight game against Ashbourne

Saturday 30th Nov 2013

Midlands 2 East (N)

Casuals 27 Ashbourne 29

Despite losing, this was Casuals best performance since their win against Loughborough. Playing the placed Ashbourne, Casuals held the lead on a number of occasions, and one more successful penalty kick would have given Casuals a win.

Casuals opened the scoring after only 4 minutes. Full back Chris Brelsford kicked ahead, and when he followed up Ashbourne were penalised for killing the ball, and Mark Higgins put over the penalty.
Ashbourne came back with a penalty shortly after to level, but Higgins put Casuals ahead again with his second penalty.

Casuals at this stage were playing with great determination, moving the ball about with the backs showing good handling skills.
Their efforts were rewarded with another penalty to go to 9 points to 3.
However their joy was short-lived when Ashbourne’s pressure through their forwards ended in a penalty try, Casuals Jon Ackroyd seeing the yellow card for interference in the loose.

Casuals refused to be intimidated by the setback, and when they won a scrum in Ashbourne’s 22, the ball went out quickly to Steve Naylor, who went in on the wing.

Casuals turned round in the lead, and Higgins added another penalty to further increase the lead.

Ashbourne started to exert some pressure, and they found Casuals weak point, with forward drives, which Casuals found difficult to contain.
When they were awarded a penalty when Casuals buckled in a scrum, the ball went to Ashbourne centres who went through the middle for the touchdown.
They further increased their score when they drove the scrum, and the subsequent move out to the wing resulted in their 3rd try. Fortunately for Casuals, up to this point Ashbourne were missing their conversions, keeping Casuals in touch.
The visitors had by now realised that Casuals could not hold them in the scrums, and after several attempts they finally pushed over for their 4th try, which this time was converted.
Higgins closed the gap with another penalty, giving Casuals hope of a revival, and when Steve Sarno went over for Casuals, Higgins adding the conversion, Casuals were only 2 points behind.

Although they were defeated by the clock, Casuals revival late on brought them a losing bonus point, which has not moved them up the table, but the signs were there that there could be hope for the future.