Nuns Colts win away at Nottingham Casuals

03/12/22
NOTTINGHAM CASUALS v NUNEATON COLTS.

14 v 45

Casuals....2 tries and 2 conversions.

Nuns....7 tries-COX, SIDHU, HEALEY, COURT, KAHRMAN, HEALEY, ILES
5 Conversions - MITCHELL

It was cold fresh morning kick off for this friendly.
After a long journey to get there and a delayed kick off, who knew how this may turn out.
And the kick off by nuns barely hit 3m, let alone 10. So followed a scrum, and a penalty to Notts.....
Not a good start.
It only got worse as Notts poured forward, up comes Pipe and tackles their 10. It was a tip tackle and over the horizontal. Ten minutes in the bin for Pipe, the first yellow card.
Not a good start went to an even poorer start.

The tide turned.
Nuns not letting the yellow card get to them turned up the heat.

Nuns got the ball and worked hard to get onto the Notts touchline and kept them under pressure.
A scrum on the 5m line, Nuns won the ball, No 8 Darker picked the ball and went for it, linked in with Cox at scrum half and sent him over for the first try.
All with one man in the bin.
Mitchel missed the conversion.

Notts were not having it, they went for it and hammered Nuns defensive line, but held fast, putting tackle in after tackle.
Pipe came back on and with a full team again, Nuns kept Notts out. Notts struggled to break the Nuns line, even though they kept knocking on the door, Nuns refused to open it.

Nuns had learnt from the first scrum, and were now holding Notts at the scrum.

Notts managed a visit into Nuns 22 and for their reward got a lineout on Nuns 5m.
Howeevr Nuns had other ideas.
An excellent defensive effort and up popped Mitchell with the ball and off he went, 80m up the pitch, but running out of gas once into their 22.
Nuns kept the pressure and won a lineout on Notts 5m line.
A catch and drive and up popped Sidhu at the back of the maul and down the line for Nuns second try.
Sidhu displaying his passion for his team and the shirt.
A missed conversion by Mitchell.
Notts came back with a try at the other end, finally being able to get through Nuns defence. They kicked the converions for a full 7 points.

Half time and it was a close score of 7-10.
Nuns had had about 5 or 6 visits into the Notts 22, but only coming away with two scores.

Now for the second half.
Nuns for the second game running, managed to pile on the pressure and finish off the opposition.
They came out for the second half roaring and full of confidence.

The second half started as the first had, but for Notts this time. Their No 9, making a high tackle on Pipe. The ref made an immediate decision with a yellow card.
Their No 9 showing sportsmans and respect for the opposition and checked Pipe was ok and apologised.
The essence of what rugby is about.

Nuns kept the pressure on and earned themselves multiple penalties, resulting in the ball sweeping out to Healey and another one of his brilliant runs to score. Mitchell found his kicking boots and made it 7-17.

Some brilliant handling throughout the team ending with a good run by Court and a try. Another conversion by Mitchell to make it 7-24.

Mitchell was putting in some cracking hard hits on the opposition, along with Spence who was tackling all over the pitch. Both making a menace of themselves.

Nuns did not relent. They kept turning the pressure on Notts. Kahrman finished a typical forward try, picking up from the back of the ruck and assited by Spence driving him on and over the line.
Mitchell again with a conversion.
Score now 7-31.

Had Nuns finished...nope.

Notts took the kick off, ball caught out to Healey, and off he went, a side step or two and a great solo 70m try. In under the posts to help Mitchell with his kicking.
Score ....7-38.

Notts finally got into the Nuns 22. They had a small forward who was fast as the wings and built like a prop.
He was their talisman, and refusing to throw in the towel, they worked the ball out and he charged for the line, crossing it for the try, they made the conversion to make it 14-38.

Notts made another break out but Healey tracked back, making an excellent try saving cover tackle. Showing his speed again, he’s just as good in defence as in attack.

Nuns weren't done yet. There was still time and the forwards had a scrum, and maintaining their dominace, pushed Notts back, picked the ball up, into a ruck and Iles off the back and over.
Mitchell sending the ball bewteen the posts for the conversion.

Final score
Notts 14 - 45 Nuns.

Nuns have learnt from their first few matches where they stuttered at half time and allowed the opposition to come back and win it in the second half.
For the last two matches they managed to put the game to bed with ruthless finishing.
They have come out after half time with a freshness about their play, rejuvinated and going for the jugular. They showed no mercy against Notts. A good alround performance. Not one player played poorly.
Each one giving 110% and then some.

Big thanks to Ella club Physio for looking after the lads.

Bring on Earlsdon!!!

Written by Mark Spence.