Corsairs travelled across the mighty Trent with high hopes of recording their first win in Midlands 3 against their local rivals. They had won the pre-season friendly against the same opposition comfortably enough in the end, though they knew the bulky Mellish forwards’ scrummaging and loose play would mean it would be no picnic.

The game kicked off under leaden skies but mercifully without the usual howling gale that so often affects this part of Nottingham. Mellish went immediately on the attack and for the first ten minutes looked almost unstoppable. Only heroic defence and Mellish handling errors kept the match scoreless. A penalty in front of the Nottingham posts presented an early chance of points but the kick drifted wide.

Corsairs were living off scraps and their scrum was under real pressure, but they gradually started to work their way into the game. Mellish’s imprecise work at the breakdown gave Corsairs a steady stream of penalties. This was compounded when the Mellish No.4 decided to clean the mud off his boots by scraping them on Tank’s face. The referee was perfectly placed and decided that he should leave the field for 10 minutes to get the job done in a more thorough manner. Quick taps and judicious kicks to touch, where the visitors’ lineout was working well, took play deep in to opposition territory. A quickly taken Mellish lineout on their own 22 was picked off by the Corsairs forwards who released scrum-half Ben Howe to scamper in under the posts. Bens unfamiliar use of a fluorescent kicking tee (rather than his usual plastic cone) was apparently the reason the conversion was missed, but the Corsairs were ahead.

From the re-start the ball was kicked short and high. Nottingham challenged for the ball with captain Rory leaping high and landing awkwardly on a Mellish flanker, who left the field after lengthy treatment for a damaged ankle. There were just two minutes to go in the half and Mellish (now back to full strength) ended it as they had started, camped in the Nottingham 22. Corsairs’ defence held out and the teams turned round with the visitors 5-0 up.

Now it was Corsairs’ turn to apply the pressure and they put the ball through several phases. Rumour has it that their backs had met for the first time in the cars on the way to the game but they shook off any unfamiliarity with a series of sweeping moves, thwarted only by excellent Mellish defence or the final pass going astray.

Finally Nottingham drove deep into the Mellish 22. The forwards took the ball on with the front 5 prominent; the backs charged for the line and, just as it looked as if the move had been snuffed out, Corsairs No. 14 Charlie span out of a maul 5 yards out and crashed over under the posts. Will, who is more accustomed to modern kicking equipment than his half-back partner, added the extra 2. 12-0 to NBC!

Mellish showed great character and, urged on by a respectable-sized crowd, rallied to lay siege to the Nottingham line for most of the rest of the half. Good ball from a home scrum on half-way was whipped out to the backs. The speedy blind-side winger cut a great line between the centres , weaved his way through the remaining Nottingham defence and raced clear to dot down under the posts. The Mellish fly-half slotted the simple conversion and we were in a one-score game.

From the re-start Mellish drove back to the Nottingham 22. A series of 5 metre scrums, countless rucks and pick-and-drives from the Mellish forwards had the few NBC supporters discussing whether all their team’s good work would come to nowt. Corsairs defended to a man as only they know how but just couldn’t seem to clear their lines. Yet another scrum was called by the ref.

Nottingham lost a man to the bin for a high tackle. Admittedly the referee was some 40 yards closer than your correspondent to the infringement but the last time I studied anatomy the neck ended at the shoulders. Apparently it now extends to the middle of the chest. Down to 14 men Nottingham emptied the bench. Rory took a nasty blow to his funny bone and left the field. He said it REALLY hurt, in much more coarse language! Five minutes to go. Surely Mellish would score?

Now, much has been written about the intelligence of front-row forwards. Sadly for the home team one of their props interpreted the referee’s instructions as crouch, PUNCH, pause, engage and, from the resulting penalty, the stranglehold was broken. Shortly afterwards the final whistle went and Corsairs had their first win (and points) of the season!

Nottingham Corsairs RFC

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