The lads were greeted with a sunny and mild morning upon arriving in Market Rasen for what was to be a gripping game between two evenly matched adversaries in the second pool game of the NLD Vase.

Buoyed by their encouraging result against Chesterfield in the first game, the team knew that another good result today would edge them ever closer to topping the pool and progressing. However, things didn’t go quite according to plan as Corsairs kicked off and found themselves five points behind within the first five minutes.

The home team went another five points up with no response from Corsairs before the interval but it could easily have been another three or four scores without response if it hadn’t been for some fantastic last-man defence from Jacob and Emilio, putting bodies on the line to stop ball carriers. Market Rasen looked better organised, strong in the scrum and the ruck and were swatting some of our defenders like flies. In short, they looked like a team who were up for a game whilst Corsairs still hadn’t got off the team coach.

However, it was unclear whether the coaches had threatened to leave the team stranded in the middle of Lincolnshire after the game or promised them an easy ride at the following Tuesday’s training session, but the team that walked back onto the pitch for the start of the second half was unrecognisable.

The fightback started following George’s gather at the restart. Corsairs started taking control of their rucks and building. Jay (aka The Hoff) crashed into the defence, forcing the opposition to commit three defenders whilst he offloaded to Giles who also managed to pass to Emilio, who ran half of the pitch, dancing through about half a dozen defenders and stretching over the try line to give the away team’s first response of the match. 10-5.

From the restart, Adam was the next Corsair to panic the opposition as the ball found its way to him on the right wing and he set off at pace from his own twenty two and carried right back into the Market Rasen twenty two before eventually being felled. The boys couldn’t capitalise on the momentum this time and soon found themselves on the back foot again as their opponents pushed them back down to defend their own try line, which Market Rasen finally breached to put them ten points ahead once again.

From the restart, Corsairs piled on the pressure in the opposition 22 until they came away with a penalty for a high tackle, just five metres out. The tap was quickly taken and the ball found its way to Giles, who made a respectable attempt to score but was stopped right on the line. As the ball was presented to Ollie from the ensuing ruck, he spotted the smallest of spaces and crept through for the second Corsairs’ try of the match, which he duly converted to bring Corsairs just three points behind their adversaries.

From the restart, Corsairs again went on the offensive immediately. The ball was being moved well throughout the back line and gain lines were being constantly made and exceeded. Everybody was carrying and moving the ball well. Giles and Emilio brought the team right back into the Market Rasen half and the whole team stood up and supported as if their lives depended on it. After going through a couple of phases, the ball started moving along a well-orchestrated attacking line, through the hands of George, Giles, Ben, Myles, the Charlies and finally into the waiting hands of Adam on the right wing, who proved too difficult to stop for the defence as he edged Corsairs in front for the first time. 15-17.

As Corsairs built the next passage of play from their own territory in the last five minutes of the second half, they were punished for a lapse in concentration by one of the Market Rasen backs as he intercepted a pass and easily ran in the next opposition try between the posts, whilst our defenders could only watch as they again went in front. To add to Corsairs’ woes, the kicker sent the ball sailing through the uprights to add the two points.

In the dying minutes of the match, Corsairs knew they had to pull something amazing off to now win this game. It looked, not for the first time today, like this match was out of reach. However, not distracted by the clock or the prospect of losing, the lads had to dig deep and pull a rabbit out of a magic hat to come away with anything now. The Green Machine kicked into gear. Every player on the pitch stepped up and our magic rabbit turned out to be Jacob, who stomped over under the posts to equalise the score.

Ollie stepped up to take the conversion. No pressure! The spectating families held their breath for what seemed liked hours until he started to move and foot connected with ball. From the moment it left the tee, it had only one destination.

In summary, the grit and determination to rise against what seemed like implausible odds today was echoed in the words of the Market Rasen coach who had nothing but admiration for the character shown by the boys in constantly fighting back and eventually snatching the victory right from under their noses. When Corsairs awoke and started to play as a team, everything changed completely, from ball handling to positional play to self-belief. The lads are capable of anything when this happens and all fifteen players are effectively used. The main learning points today were that every player must totally commit to tackling, every player must be ready to receive the ball and that the rewards for dogged determination are evident on days like this.

The team really fronted up and this true grit was abundant in today’s MOTM, Ollie. Always involved in marshalling the team, ever present at the breakdowns and never shying away from the tackle or the responsibility for taking the kicks, regardless of the pressure. Oh, and he scored a try!

This result sets the seen for an exciting final pool showdown between Corsairs and local rivals, Casuals, who also defeated Market Rasen with just a two point margin. Game on!

Nottingham Corsairs RFC

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