Nottinghamians 1XV, Saturday 16^th February, Home, Won 24-18

Royces welcomed Nottinghamians to Victory Road keen to show the visitors that the real Royces had not turned up in the reverse fixture back in early October and to keep their promotion push alive. A pleasing point was only two changes to the side that won convincingly against the University the week previously. With the second tallest player in the squad DFRL otherwise engaged removing sand from his crack Ben Higgin came in at flanker and with Jon Peacock moving to the wing Paul Hill came in at full back.

Much had been said prior to the game about starting the first ten minutes well but to Hamians credit they started much the better for the first five minutes. Royces woke up and drove themselves into the Hamians 22. Following a series of drives and good ball retention by the forwards the ball went down the back line and centre Lawrence Betty hit the line to crash over in the right hand corner. Conversion missed 5-0. Having now woken up to the increased intensity of the game compared to the previous two weeks Royces kept their discipline and played themselves into the Hamians 22, again good ball retention putting McLaughlin in the position to slot a drop goal, 8-0. From the restart Royces again drive into the Hamians half and were awarded with a penalty that McLaughlin slotted, 11-0.Both teams pressed hard looking for another break through prior to half time and it was Royces who got it. Winning their own line out just outside the Hamians 22 the ball was spun down the back line with Lawrence Betty squeezing over in the right hand corner, conversion missed 16-0. With 3 minutes left Royces looked to close out the half and repelled a couple of determined Haminas attacks. However in the 44^th minute they were awarded a penalty which was converted to make the score 16-3 at half time.

The second half started with Hamians determined to get themselves back into the game and Royces defended well but a quick tap penalty saw Hamians cross the line and with the conversion successful the score was 16-10. Similar to Royces in the first half Hamians quickly re-established field position and an indiscretion at a ruck gifted the visitors three points from in front of the posts, 16-13. Having now woken up Royces pressurised Hamians into a series of mistakes and kept them in their own half. A combination of a revitalised scrum and switching the lineout ensured Royces began to exert dominance in the set piece. Following a Royces knock on Hamians had a scrum deep in their own 22, the push came on from the Royces front five allowing Dave Poole to put pressure on his opposite number to force the mistake and Ben Higgin pounced on the loose ball in the corner to score, conversion missed 21-13.  Knowing one more score would kill off the game Royces pegged Hamians back inside their own half and similar to the first half good ball retention allowed McLaughlin to send over a drop goal, 24-13. Hamians kept going and scored a try with the last play of the game in the left hand corner, conversion missed final score 24-18.

A good win for Royces against a much changed and improved Hamians side. Royces move up to third in the league. However they will have to improve and up the intensity further in the remaining four league games if they are to realise the goal of promotion. Next up Royces are away to Boots in the quarter final of the NLD cup on Wednesday 20^th February. League action resumes on 1^st March away at North Derbyshire.

Team: Paul Hill (8), Jon Peacock (8), Lawrence Betty (9), Mark Lowe (9), Ed Barker (8), Paul McLaughlin (7), Dave Poole (8), Iwan Ranft (8), Luke Daigneault (8), Adam King (7), Malcolm Lee (7), Andrew Taylor (7), Alex Gill (7), Ben Higgin (7), Ian Baker (7). Subs: Mike Brown (8), Callum Elliott (8), Shane McNamara (8).