Casuals win over Bridgford

Casuals romped to a 5 try bonus point win in this local derby, not only beating West Bridgford, but they leap frogged them in the league table in the process.
Even with some late changes due to illness and injury, Casuals still had a strong side, and the team gelled pretty quickly.
Promoted last season, Bridgford had put together a string of wins, and they probably thought that Casuals were going to be their next victims.
Previous encounters have often been fairly feisty, and this game was no different, however Casuals kept 15 men on the pitch throughout, whilst Bridgford lost players to yellow cardings, and the numerical advantage helped Casuals cause.

West Bridgford had early territorial advantage, and they pinned Casuals back for a brief period, but after 6 minutes Casuals managed to extricate themselves, and went downfield and a penalty kick to touch gave Casuals a lineout close to Bridgford’s line.
The forwards drove the ball on, Bridgford were unable to stop the surge, and lock Tom Lightfoot bounded in from short range for his first touchdown of the season
Mark Higgins added the conversion.

Casuals dominated territory for much of the half, and it was their defensive qualities that frustrated and seemed to dent Bridgford’s composure. Time after time Bridgford’s attacks were halted, with both Casuals backs and forwards putting in numerous tackles, preventing Bridgford putting together any meaningful attacks. Casuals’ resolve was evident, as they started to relish the encounter.

Casuals close quarter work was far more effective, and the ball was moved about with purpose, the forwards going through some hard graft to gradually wear down the visitors’ defences, giving the backs the opportunity the show their better handling skills. Ball retention started to prove the key.

Casuals attacked Bridgford once more on 35 minutes, and they recycled the ball from rucks and mauls, until scrum half Ben Barkham found a gap, and zipped through for Casuals second try, which Higgins again converted.
Casuals nearly added a third try just before ½ time, but Bridgford managed to stop Steve Naylor’s run.

Casuals turned round only 14 points up, which was less than they deserved, but the second half was only 3 minutes old when Casuals scored again.
Casuals once again won clean lineout ball, and it was Barkham again, cutting through for his second try, with Higgins again adding the conversion.

Casuals continued to dominate and they got their fourth try when the forwards had done all the donkey work, and Higgins had a simple run in for his first try, which he converted. This gave Casuals a much welcome bonus point.

Bridgford then brought on one of their subs, and he had an immediate impact, when he ran staright through and sent a man away to record a converted try.

Fortunately for Casuals, his involvement was curtailed shortly after, and Casuals came back to dominate. Their cause was greatly helped when 2 Bridgford players fell foul of the referee, and they were yellow carded within minutes of each other.

Casuals forwards, once again, made good ground, and the backs were relishing the space created, and Higgins rounded off the scoring, almost at the death, with another 7 pointer, to firmly drive the stake in, leaving Bridgford somewhat shell shocked at the blitzing they had received.

Next week Casuals travel to Stamford, visiting the bottom club in the league, hopefully to carry on where they left off.