Casuals fight for survival is going to the wire

Saturday 8th March 2014

Midlands 2 East N

Ashbourne 19 Nott’m Casuals 18

Casuals fight for survival is going to the wire

Casuals travelled to Ashbourne, knowing they had yet another tough
fixture. Previous encounters have a ways been very close, with several
draws.

Ashbourne took the lead with an unconverted try, Casuals giving away a
series of penalties which kept them pinned back, but Casuals levelled
the score, when Brodie Howatson crossed, but the conversion was
slightly off target
Casuals had to resist Ashbourne’s attacks, not being able to retain
possession helping Ashbourne to maintain the pressure.
Ashbourne eventually got their reward with a converted try, with
Casuals protesting to the referee that the ball carrier had stepped
into touch just before offloading to the try scorer.
Higgins pulled Casuals back to within one point with 2 more penalties,
but they let Ashbourne dictate by needless misdirected kicks in
midfield, putting their defence under unnecessary pressure.

Casuals hard work was undone when Ashbourne’s stand off picked the ball
deep in his own half, and Casuals defence just fell away as he ran
forward, and he got through unchallenged for a converted try.

Ashbourne kept up the pressure and they were living off Casuals
mistakes, but they were unable to get a score, despite managing to
drive a maul over the line when the referee gave a penalty to Casuals,
to relieve the pressure.

Casuals worked their way back upfield and again had the opportunity to
get a score, but the penalty kick was off target, but their persistence
eventually led to Joe Barton bursting over on the 5 metre line, making
sure of the losing bonus point, Higgins converting, but with only
seconds left, Ashbourne gratefully closed the game out.

Casuals still have some hard work to do, especially with the news that
Kesteven had picked up 2 points, meaning they could overtake Casuals in
the relegation fight.,