Paviors RFC

For our first 15-a-side game of rugby we travelled to the land over the humpback bridge between the canal and the River Trent to play Nottingham Casuals U14’s. After the deluge on Saturday, we were expecting it very wet underfoot but the pitch nearest the river was in remarkably good condition and the weather dry and not too cold so great conditions to play in.

Casuals had warned us that they would be a player short so to get a 15 a side game played we agreed to lend them a couple of players. It turned out they were 2 players short so the players we lent them played the whole of the first half before swapping at half time with another 2 lads. Thanks Finley, Danny, Monty and Taylor. Then just before kick-off their scrum half fell ill so Dylan stepped up and played the full 50 mins for Casuals getting to play at Scrum Half instead of on the wing for us. Thanks Dylan. All 5 lads played well and did us proud.

Paviors started well with some good go forward play, good support and the ball went down the line for Cole to go over the line in the right hand corner. The first lesson on the new laws quickly came into play with Cole running in from the corner before dotting down, but he could probably have got closer to the posts to make the Conversion easier. Cole was taking the first half conversions and it was a bit too far out for him to convert.

The second try came from some poaching from a Casuals lineout 5m from their try line. Oli heard their fly half saying he was going to kick so from the back of the line targeted the ball from the scrum half and intercepted before it reached the fly half to touch down over the line.

Casuals had some ball and penalties for high tackles that the referee had to warn the Paviors players about. The chances this creates enabled Casuals to make it down the pitch and their effort led to a try to bring the score back to 5-10.

After this Paviors applied more pressure, which could have led to a try on the right wing but for some low tackling by Casuals on the strong running Ayden. However, the support play eventually led to a try for Harry on the left hand side of the pitch.

Paviours continued to push but some loose balls gave Casuals a chance to gain territory and this possession led to a further try in the first half. None of the tries in the first half were converted but one of the Casuals tries was scored by Finley, one of the loanees. Half time came with the score at 10-15.

Lots of substitutions were made by us at half time, and loan players were swapped. Although Paviors still had quite a bit of possession to start with, including a Nr 8 pick and go from a scrum that got us very close to the try line, loose passes and lost ball at rucks led to Casuals being able to gain momentum. We also missed a lot of tackles, either players being allowed to run through congested areas or single players finding spaces on the edge of our defensive line when it was not up quickly or connected.

Because of the missed tackles Casuals were able to score a couple of tries to put them in the lead. The first completed conversion of the game went to Casuals after the referee adjudged that our lads had charged too early so the kick was re-taken and scored, putting them 7 points ahead.

After a fantastic interception picked up off his boot laces by Finley, Paviors gained possession back up the pitch and this led to a penalty near the touch line and about 10m out. The Forwards decided we should kick the ball to touch and Owen put the ball out for a 5m attacking lineout. From this Harry tanked over the line for a try to bring the score back to within 2 points.

Unfortunately, because of indecision or lack of communication we didn’t take the re-start kick and Casuals were able to regain possession. More missed tackles as the game wore on led to another chance for Casuals to score out wide and Paviors were unable to catch up leading to a 27-20 final score.

For our first game back after a break it was disappointing to lose but it was against a team with 3 Paviors lads in it. Without those players, all of our players would have played a lot less rugby today and we wouldn’t have been able to play with flankers for the first time. The reason for the loss wasn’t the lads we lent them. It was much more, as the players recognised, down to retaining possession, passing more effectively and most importantly making tackles.

Some positives to take from today included: flankers enjoying attacking around the fringes, scrums working well, tries from lineouts, Dylan and all the centres playing well for Casuals and Henry coming his through his first game back from his broken collar bone unscathed. Christmas cobwebs now blown away, we need to up our game for playing at home v Ilkeston next Sunday.