All MACs U16s V Notts Casuals

After missing last week due to an unfit pitch it was great to be back playing again at chilly Nottingham Casuals and wearing very smart new Coalville shirts sporting the All Macs logo.

The damp conditions made handling errors common throughout the first half and it was Casuals who took advantage of cold hands and shoulders to register the first score inside 10 minutes as missed tackles from repeated runs up the middle saw them crash over from just inside the halfway.
5-0

Despite being the much smaller pack; All Mac scrum held up robustly and went on to dominate as the match progressed. Good runs from Kira, Amele and Evie P were offset by some missed tackles allowing Casuals to keep the ball alive and spread it wide to the right and take the ball over for their second try.
10-0

The All Mac defence then turned up the heat and kept Casuals inside their own half before forcing two penalties in quick succession. Immy took the ball through the defensive line and up into the 22 earning a further penalty. This time a quick tap and bulldozing run from Georgie split the defensive line for the first All Mac score of the match. 10-5

A solid run from Kira and silky offload to Evie P from the resulting kick off pushed the All Mac’s back up to the halfway line. The ball was recycled left and Immy took the ball across the face of the defensive line, linking up with Anneliis who rounded the final defender, hugged the touch line and sped half the length of the pitch to tie the match 10-10.

To prove that the previous try wasn’t a fluke; Anneliis got the ball again within a minute of the restart and sped again down the left touchline for her second score. Kira converting the kick to make the halftime score 10-17

After the restart; Casuals managed to force their way into the All Mac 22 following a scrappy restart but an amazing defensive effort managed to hold the ball carrier up over the try line and earn a goal line drop out only for an encroaching defender to charge down the resulting kick and regain possession. This time the attacker crashed over for a try but they couldn’t draw the scores level as the conversion sailed wide. 15-17

Some scrappy play by both teams- handling errors resulting scrums and 2 x lengthy injury breaks dominated the next incalculable amount of time but All Mac continued to pressure the home team deep into their own half. Creating numerous chances through Immy, Kira, Georgie and Evie P that each could have resulted in a try but for the Casuals defence to deny them. It therefore seemed a cruel twist when Casuals stole the ball inside their own 22 and, with an overlap on the right, exploited the open space to sprint clear and score under the posts which was duly converted to regain the lead 22-17.

But All Mac reasserted their pressure in attack and found themselves back down within striking distance of the try line and it was Georgie who saw the opportunity to pick and place the ball over the line from inside 1 metre to tie the score. Kira stepped up under immense pressure to slot the conversion home to retake the lead 22-24 with 6 minutes remaining in the game.

Not only did the try secure the lead but it also instilled a new level of confidence throughout the All Mac team. Through Immy and Kira’s runs they secured penalties taking the ball deeper into the opposing half. And so it was fitting that it was Kira who took the ball, and a number of defenders up to the try line before Immy picked and placed the ball over the line for the final score of the game.

All Mac were particularly strong in the scrum forcing their opposite numbers back whilst scrum half Bella made a nuisance of herself pressuring the Casuals scrum half at every opportunity. Evie P had a huge day at loose head both in the scrum forcing her much bigger opponent back almost every scrum and then carrying the ball hard to gain valuable metres in open play.

Well done to both teams for playing the game in great spirit and showing some excellent rugby skills.