Sat 17 Sep 2022, 15:00
Retford not the only thing missing....
With a dry pitch, the sun shining and a slight breeze, it was to be a perfect day for some running rugby on Canal Side. Ominously, Nottingham Casuals thought the same and fielded a fast and dynamic team across the park. Retford travelled with one reserve having struggled for numbers due to a variety of reasons this week, giving several opportunities to players.
It was clear from the warm-up that the disruption was playing on the Retford ranks and the game started with green and gold minds still at Ordsall Road. An inability to hold possession combined with some uncharacteristically poor defence allowed Notts to Casually rack up some early points. At the 20-minute mark, the game was getting away from Retford. There were strong words in the group huddle, and a simplified strategy was put into place for Retford to focus on and get a foothold in the game.
We started to rack up phases making steady progress in Casuals territory, overall playing much better. Simple errors and dropped balls, however, undid this good work and the fleet-footed opponents were able to run the tries in from anywhere. Half time couldn’t come soon enough.
Retford took a breath and re-grouped. The score was irrelevant at this point, a reaction was needed in the second half to put some pride into the Choughs.
Pick our heads up, cut the errors and keep the ball. A simple message.
Our forward pack stepped up to this challenge. The simple plan relied heavily on willing runners, non-more impressive than Tom White who time after time put his hand up and thumped into the opposition line. This started to draw penalties and field position. Our much-improved set piece, with Aiden Wilson’s efforts, allowed us to batter the Casuals line, but nothing would come easy against a well-drilled side.
Eventually, Ali ‘Napoleon’ Waring gave a Dynamite offload from a half break, Keelan Ward battered through 3 men and reached out for Retford’s opening score converted by Greg Wood. Suddenly some belief. Henry Sly dotted down from a close-range effort, only to be denied by some rogue rugby values. This only made us work harder.
Retford kept the lion's share of possession though the half, with our eager second row of Paul Barrett and Mark Gillam carrying hard and smashing into rucks. Alfie Kay was getting a foothold in the game and bossed the big boys around, giving Adam Fenney a platform at 10 to start to work the back line. The odd mistake still led to a conceeding tries as the fast opposition couldn’t be caught, but overall the encounter was much tighter.
Joe Charlesworth was jinxing past defenders despite only one ankle in operation, and his centre partner Greg Wood had started to find some gaps to run through. Great support work from the Rees Lightning’s on either wing, Henry Sly and Adam Fenney gave us the field position. Keelan Ward ran the last support line off a neat switch to score into the corner for his second and the last play of the game. An act of defiance.
The final score was 75-12.
