Notts Casuals ‘A’ XV   26 Pts

V

East Retford 2^nd XV        0 Pts

Notts Casuals were the hosts to East Retford’s 2^nd XV on a cold and overcast day in Beeston.  Originally scheduled as a cup fixture, the game was rearranged as a friendly, with the home side fielding a mixed team of first and second team regulars.  Retford, although originally taking a full squad, had to borrow players from the opposition after one of the cars got lost on the way to the game.  Although this was not the ideal start to the afternoon, Retford were hopeful of making an impression.

From the kick off, the home team took the game to Retford.  A hatful of missed tackles in the first ten minutes led to a converted try to Casuals, and the signs were ominous.  However, this seemed to spur on Retford, and although they played the first half on the back foot, defensively they were solid.  The home team pounded the Retford line, both with crashed forward drives and quick running backs, but Retford held them back with some inspirational tackles, with every man working hard to support his team mates. The backs had very little ball to hand, but their defensive line and covering tackles ensured that the home team would not take a big lead, and the forwards more than matched the opposition in the scrum.  Casuals managed to score one more try, again converted, but at half-time the score was 14-0 when a bigger margin had been threatened.

The second half started in much the same vein, with wave after wave of Casuals attacks keeping Retford on the defensive, although Richard South pierced the home team line on a couple of occasions.  Casuals scored twice more in the second half, one of which were converted, but the hard-working Retford defence prevented them from any further gains.  A special mention to Wayne Franks at full-back, whose last-man tackling was superb.

Man of the match goes to Liam Walters in the forwards for good work in the loose and at the breakdown, and to Richard South in the backs for his incisive running.  Donkey goes to the car full of players who were desperately in need of a sat-nav.