A great start to 2014 for Casuals

Saturday 4th Jan 2014

Midlands 2 East N

Kesteven 7 Nottingham Casuals 15

Casuals start to 2014 could not have been better, with a hard fought win at fellow strugglers Kesteven, and the news that Melton had been deducted 10 points, moving Casuals off the bottom of the league.

Casuals played with more determination and intent than in their previous outing, and their tackling and the pressure they put Kesteven under in open play, paid dividends.
Set pieces were markedly better, and although not perfect, Casuals still gained enough possession to set up good attacking moves throughout the game.
The conditions were not suited to flowing rugby, but it was Kesteven who could not cope with the elements, and they were regularly guilty of spilling the ball, at times being over ambitious, though much of it was down to Casuals gain-line pressure, forcing mistakes whenever the hosts tried to run some basic moves.

After only 12 minutes, Kesteven were forced to kick ahead from inside their own half, and the ball went to Brodie Howatson, playing in his new role at full back, and he was given room to gain momentum from Casuals’ 22.
His speed and elusive running, linked to his ability to fend off tacklers, gave him a passage through the despairing defence , making it to just short of Kesteven’s goal line, and as he was tackled he was able to stretch out and place the ball down for the try. Mark Higgins converted.

Casuals had the opportunity to increase their lead when they got into the in-goal area, but in trying to get the touchdown closer to the posts, the ball was unfortunately dropped, this being followed by the simplest of kicks at goal from a penalty, which was missed.
However, Higgins righted that, when he converted from 45 metres.
Casuals continued to press, and the forwards kept the moves going, and they were unlucky not to increase their score when another effort was stopped just short of the line.
The second half was a bit of a mixed bag, as Kesteven tried to force their way back into the game, but again their inability to retain possession led to the next try.
Casuals stole the ball from a Kesteven scrum, the ball was dropped, and when Howatson ran through, he linked with Gareth Austin, who in turn fed Steve Sarno, and the ball found Pete Rowe and he just had to put the ball down over the line for Casuals second try.

Kesteven then came back and managed to work their way upfield, eventually managing to squeeze through for a converted try.

That was their last meaningful effort, as Casuals joyfully closed the game out for the much needed win.