Corsairs travelled to city neighbours Casuals for the final group match of the NLD vase in the knowledge that a win for either side would result in progression to the final at the end of April, so lots at stake.

Casuals kicked off and Corsairs showed intent from the outset, taking possession cleanly and bringing play to the middle of the field where it stayed for a few minutes until the home team were penalised for not releasing. Ollie kicked for touch but the Casuals right wing managed to keep the ball in play, only to come under pressure immediately from the marauding attackers who won back the ball and moved it through Harry T, Adam, Emilio, Jay and Hari before it eventually found Charlie P, who had been waiting on the left wing to storm through and steal the first try to put Corsairs in the lead after six minutes.

A few penalties had been awarded for high tackles early on, and the referee, rightly concerned for the players’ safety, took both captains aside and warned that the next such offence would lead to a yellow card. From a Casuals’ scrummage on the Corsairs’ 5 metres, the number 8 executed a great pick and go, cutting past the Corsairs back row effortlessly to score between the posts and even the score.

The next few minutes proved to be the most eventful of a very entertaining match. Ollie was to be the first sent to the sin bin for the promised punishment, and the resultant kick to touch by the Casuals outside half almost took Coach Nathan’s head off. With Corsairs temporarily down to fourteen players, Casuals now had a golden opportunity to make the numbers count for the next six minutes.

Coach Mark, who was running the line, was the next to be sent off by the ref, calling into question his nickname for his own son, Hari aka ASBO, as he threw the flag down in a ‘drop the mike’ moment after he was reprimanded and expelled from pitch side for daring to point out (politely I may add) a questionable refereeing decision. It was probably the first and last time we’ll see a linesman sent packing but the author is keeping his eyes peeled in the 6 Nations, just in case.

Despite the distractions, both teams knuckled down to the match at hand and Emilio managed a great carry from one 22 to the other before being brought down and setting the ball nicely for another phase in the opposition 22. The home team finally succumbed to Corsairs pressure, getting penalised for hands in the ruck right in front of their posts. George quickly tapped and battered his way over, under the posts, for Corsairs’ next try, setting up a straightforward conversion for Hari, to give a seven-point lead.

From the restart, Charlie C took cleanly and set off on a rampage up the right wing, offloading to Jacob, who in turn released Adam and Emilio to carry the ball back up as far as the Casuals’ 22 and finally out to Harry R, who got as far as the 5 metres before being bundled into touch. From the lineout, Casuals tried to kick their way out of trouble but this was immediately gathered by Emilio outside the 22 and carried right back up to the 5 metres once again and setting up for Charlie C to throw a pass to the ‘Hoff’, who was only going to go in one direction being so close to the try line; straight. With every inch in his frame, he stretched and grounded the ball for Corsairs’ third, which Hari duly converted to put Corsairs in a more comfortable position at half time, 5-19.

In the second half, Corsairs looked like they started to lose a little confidence but quickly regrouped and found themselves awarded a penalty on the Casuals’ ten metre line after a defender tried to tackle Hari off the ball. The referee allowed advantage to be played but later decided nothing came from it so went back for the original penalty. Unfortunately, just like ‘loose lips sink ships’, a phrase often used during wartime, ‘gobbing off gifts points to the Hoff’ applied on this occasion as the referee took Casuals back another ten yards for dissent and Harry T quickly took the tap to launch quick ball along the line until it eventually found the mighty mullet for his second try.

From a long restart, Emilio riskily gathered rather than go for the dropout and started the comeback deep in Corsairs’ own 22 with the help of Charlie P. From a scrummage, Noah picked up and started a fantastic attack with a dummy that would make Antoine Dupont proud, moving the ball along the back line until it found Emilio, who again stormed up the right wing to take it right back up to the opponents’ 22 before being brought down. Some more great carrying inside the 22 from Jacob, eventually sending the ball into the waiting hands of Ollie, just over five metres out, from where he sidestepped two defenders with ease to score on the right wing and increase the breathing space yet more.
Although the game now seemed out of reach for Casuals, Corsairs did not rest on their laurels after being bitten so many times in the past and continued to press home their dominance of the game. In the dying minutes of the match, from the restart, Corsairs continued to move the ball well through Noah, Harry T, Hari, Charlie P, Ollie and Adam and were pressing again inside the Casuals’ 22. Despite some great last-ditch defence from the home team in holding up one try, within moments of keeping one out, they let one in as George piled over for the final score of the match from a quick tap penalty.

In summary, Corsairs defended well today, foiling almost every attack Casuals mounted. This made all the difference, as it was something Casuals did not execute as effectively, allowing Corsairs to exploit the gaps time after time. The forwards were well-matched as Casuals scrummaged hard and gave our lads a real run for their money, but the Green Tsunami’s determination, teamwork and speed was just too overwhelming in the end. If Corsairs played every match like today’s there wouldn’t be a U15s team in the NLD district who wouldn’t be daunted by the prospect of facing them. Harry T was deservedly awarded MOTM for his control of the game from the No.10 position. He seemed to be involved in every break the team made and read the game really well. It wasn’t an easy decision for the coaches however, as every player in the squad stepped up, challenged and won. It was great to see the lads depend on each other and perform as a real team. Every ball carrier was confident that the support was present and every tackler dogged.

Well done lads! Next week its Newark at home and they’ll be looking to set the record straight after their home defeat earlier in the season. The question is……will a revitalised Corsairs let them?

Nottingham Corsairs RFC

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