B's v Newcastle 3rds

This week really tested our resources ,as of Friday night we had a really strong starting 15 with 5 finishers , by meet time on Saturday we had effectively lost a full front row, one backrow and a winger , we rallied though ,pulled our resources and headed across the A50 with 19 players , which included 7 colts.... 18 and under , the evergreen Lee Carter starting at tighthead and Charlie Newcombe home from the Navy for a weekend in the back row .
After a comprehensive warm up led by captain Ben Stone we started with a simple instruction win the kick off secure ball and go forward, didn't quite go to plan we took the ball but didn't secure it got turned over and the Newcastle lads went over under the posts after just 2 minutes .

Score B's 0-7 Cass

This certainly focused the minds and we didn't let it affect us, after some stern words from Stoney we got into the game and despite the clay pot pitch we played some good quick rugby with our back line looking good despite the conditions and it didn't take us long to get back into the game , with our scrum looking solid with the immovable objects Tando and Big Lee the ball was secured and spread across the back line with some slick interplay that eventually saw Mitch go over in the corner after 12 minutes ,the difficult conversion from out wide just falling short .

Score B's 5-7 Cass

The remainder of the first half were quite even with Cass's Welsh International 10 pulling the strings (well that's what he kept telling us ) investigation post match did support his claim though as he actually played for Wales through the age groups and it wasn't long before he added another converted try , we replied though with Joe Ensor going over out wide again H just missing a tough conversion. We felt we should have been awarded a penalty try and the Cass lad binned after Joe again broke the line and took off went round about 3 would be Cass tacklers with just their fullback to beat who Joe sidestepped ,it took a high tackle to stop him the ref who stood in at the last minute didn't give it though so the half ended as it was .

Half Time B's 10-14 Cass

We kicked off the second half with hopes high of turning the small deficit around and keeping our run going , we made a couple of changes with Shaun Hudson on debut coming on in the second row and Josh Barlow coming onto the wing , fresh legs were essential and our fitness to go the full 80 with conditions underfoot like playing in treacle were a big driver in turning the game around , Welshy though had other thoughts added a penalty to stretch Cass's lead to 7 points we though came back again and got our third try through H who added his own conversion after 60 minutes scores now level.

Score B's 17-17 Cass .

As we entered the last 15 minutes the game could have gone either way and one excursion into our half Cass were awarded another penalty which they kicked to again take the lead .

Score B's 17-20 Cass

But again good use of our bench bringing on younger fresher legs kept us in their 22 which saw us continually attack and move forward with this momentum you could just sense another try in the offing and so it proved with us finally dotting down to take the lead for the first time in the match ...not quite sure what happened with H's conversion attempt though !!.

Score B's 22-17

The ref who TBH had a good game seemed to have a watch malfunction at this point with mine saying 3 minutes left he had it at 9 !! but
with some good ball retention and game management we saw out the final few minutes to secure another win and stay top of the league .
In summary we dug in and found a way to win and great to see 7 Colts getting a taste of Senior Rugby and not looking out of place 1-19 did an amazing job but just a few shouts outs JT must have made over 20 tackles ,H game management and strategic kicking when required ,Lee Carter played a good 50 minutes in the FR and saved me having to put my boots on.
Onto next week home V Burntwood 2 get your availabilities in please and lets keep the momentum and this run going

Final Score B's 22-20 Cass another BP win and we stay Top of the League .