Nottingham Casuals, Saturday 24^th November, Away, Lost 15-12

Royces made the short trip to Beeston in a return to league action. As has become the norm there were a number of changes to last weeks’ team, particularly across the back line with the 3 first choice centres all injured and a brand new back 3 combination getting a run out.

Playing into the wind in the first half Royces started strongly and spent much of the first 15 minutes in the Casuals half, but lack of composure in crucial areas led to a number of turn overs and gifted casuals chances to clear each time. Against the run of play, the first try went to the home team on 20 minutes when Royces spilled the ball in midfield and Casuals ran the ball up the left hand side, with simple hands allowing the full back (celebrating his 30th birthday and turning back the years) to touch down in the corner.  Conversion missed.

This didn’t seem to affect Rolls-Royce who continued to enjoy the better territorial advantage, with the lineout functioning well. A kick up field resulted in a Casuals penalty into the corner. From the lineout Royces knocked on and Casuals had a five metre scrum. With nothing between the scrums there followed a 10 minute scrum fest with possession swinging either side, flanker Dan Sanderson was sent to the bin for breaking early and was lucky not to concede a penalty try. With Royces now down to 7 in the scrum casuals kept the pressure on and the inevitable try finally came, but not without some controversy – in the scrum that brought the touchdown, the casuals back row broke early and Casuals No 6 dropped out on the blindside at first receiver and waited, with the referee not spotting the infringement, confusion followed in the Royces defence allowing their 2^nd row, who was now at the rear of the scrum, to fall on the ball over the try line. Conversion missed. With a man advantage Casuals were able to score once in the 47^th minute of the first half through the backs, again the conversion was missed leaving the score 15-0 to the hosts at half time.

Not deterred by the score line Royces turned round with the wind at their backs and in truth never looked like conceding in the second half, the question was could they score the 16 points, most likely 3 tries needed to win the game. As the half wore on Royces began to dominate the scrum, coupled with their superiority at the line out gave them clear set piece advantage. Eventually the pressure told when just on the field, replacement Malcolm Lee, drove over in the corner. Conversion missed, 15-5.

From the restart Royces pegged Casuals back in their own half and launched a series of attacks. With 5 minutes left on the clock, skipper McLaughlin launched a cross field kick, running like a giraffe on marbles, Sanderson gathered the ball and after evading 2 or 3 would be tacklers and ignoring the support on either side, he was finally hauled down just short of the line but was able to out stretch his 5 foot arm and touch the ball down over the line. To the bemusement of the away supporters who had been frustrated by the rub of the green all afternoon, the referee deemed that Sanderson had used a double movement to get the ball over the line and awarded a penalty to the home team. With time now running out and conscious that they were still 2 scores down Royces again came back at Casuals - the ball found its way out to Tom King on the wing making his first start in a Royces shirt. Having already had a superb all round game he gathered on the opposition 22, showing great speed and strength he touched down taking his winger with him for the trip. Conversion landed, 15-12. Both teams were reduced to 14 men when Ady Gregory refused to allow his head to be used more than twice as a punch bag and dumped tackled the offending player, both players heading for the showers early with a yellow card. Frustratingly for Royces and the travelling supporters it was too little too late and the final whistle was blown on 42 minutes.

A much improved performance from the away team against one of the league’s form teams on their own patch. Some standout performances from winger King, centre Tubby in defence and flanker Sanderson (forgetting his 10 mins in the bin which led to 2 opposition tries).

Next week Royces are away to Barton & District in the league and should take great confidence into the game. A beer bus will be running for this fixture.

Team: Ed Barker, Shane McNamara, JT Peacock, Greg Fowler, Tom King, Paul McLaughlin, Dave Poole, Adrian Gregory, Mike Brown, Luke Daigneault, Callum Elliott, Nick Golding, Ian Baker, Dan Sanderson, Andrew Taylor. Subs: Malcolm Lee, Adam King, Andy Blackhurst.