Casuals don't get any cake from Bakewell

7 December 2013
Midlands 2 East (North)
Bakewell 33 Nottingham Casuals nil
The score in Casuals latest defeat does not reflect the effort from the players in general.
It must also be said, however, that the ever changing team selection due to the unavailability of players is causing training problems, and poor cohesion on the pitch.
The lack of points does not show the number of times they were camped on Bakewell’s line, only to be thwarted by the home sides defence.
It was the inability to get the scrum put-ins due to the number of times the ball was held up in the loose, that really did the damage.
Bakewell started the game at a pace, and only a forward pass prevented them getting over. However, after 10 minutes Casuals started to retain possession well, and they energetically moved the ball about both in the forwards and backs, making good ground, but not quite getting up to Bakewell’s line.
Bakewell then came back on the attack. Casuals were penalised for hands in the ruck, and Bakewell duly put the kick over.
A few minutes later Casuals were penalised again for not releasing in the tackle, and Bakewell increased the lead with another kick at goal.
In all this time Casuals were not unduly pressured, and still managed to get back upfield, but to no avail, as Bakewell came back again to build up a series of simple passing moves, stretching Casuals defence to leave a gap which Bakewell exploited,to get through to the line for a converted try taking them onto 13 points on the ½ hour.
It was only just before the break that Bakewell managed to put together a move which took them over the try line. However the ball was adjudged to have been held up, so Bakwell were awarded a scrum 5, which they then were successful in getting the next try, which was again converted.
6 minutes after ½ time Bakewell were awarded yet another penalty, which was again put over the sticks.
Despite this Casuals managed to camp in Bakewell’s half, and they even got over the line , but were not awarded the score, but had the put in at the subsequent scrum.
Casuals were unable to convert this pressure into points, and Bakewell came away again.
Initially there was no danger, and Casuals were able to pressure Bakewell for a period, but as play developed in to a maul, a Bakewell man came away with the ball and Casual's lack lustre defence allowed him to stroll through without a hand being laid on him.
The final score was another a simple and straightforward attack, which went through several phases, before Bakewell worked it out to the backs, and they got over for the bonus point try.
In the past few games Casuals have introduced several players to the first team ranks, with Tim Clarke returning in the backs after a long absence from the club. Also brought in have been Peter Rowe on the wing, and Ben Foss in the back row.
However they still had to call on a club veteran in the front row in the shape of Phil Aylward, who always put in a sterling display, no matter what.
Casuals not only have had to bring players into the team, but they also had to make a number of positional changes amongst the players who turned out last week