OUTLAWS 0 BRAMLEY 28
Report by Richard Johnson
Photos by Christa Lam-Cassettari
Nottingham Outlaws entertained current Co-operative Conference national league leaders Bramley Buffaloes on Saturday at The Bay. Despite a gutsy defensive performance, a badly-depleted team Outlaws were out-gunned 28-0 by the powerful champions-elect.
As usual coach Martin Crick went into the match with a host of changes and things were made worse when returning centre Chris McNamara had to withdraw at the last minute due to transport issues. Back into the squad came Bryn Waldram and Dom Walsh, both returning from injury and veteran Stew Readhead was drafted onto a bench spot as a last-minute replacement.
The match started with both teams battling for forward ascendancy in the middle of the park. It was a bit of an uneven battle in terms of size and power as the big Bramley pack began to make dents in the Outlaws defensive line and they almost opened their account on the 3rd minute but a strong cover tackle by Dom Walsh kept the marauding Buffaloes out when a try seemed certain.
With the big Buffaloes pack on top the opening score wasnt long in coming and with the clock on 5 minutes Bramley capitalised with a penalty on the last tackle to build yet more pressure and finally punctured the Outlaws defensive line when Andy McGann opened the scoring for the Buffaloes to make it 4-0 to the visitors.
As the first half unfolded the match continued in the same vein. Forwards Strachan and Millward tried their hardest to breach the Bramley line but a series of big hits and gang-tackles stopped the Outlaws forward offensive in their tracks.
Above: Oliver Crick looks to evade the grip of a Bramley defender
By contrast the Bramley pack continued to make good progress down the centre of the park to set up field position in the Outlaws red zone. However, desperate Outlaws scrambling defence kept them out and at the mid-way point of the first stanza the Outlaws were still only one score adrift despite being under the cosh for most of the opening quarter.
Having taken a pounding the Outlaws managed to move the ball upfield with the help of a penalty and good work from Cassettari saw the Outlaws nearly level things but a powerful drive to the line by prop Bryn Waldram was just held up by desperate Bramley defence and then a fine run and chip over the top by Ali Waring nearly paid dividends but Steve Page was hauled down in the tackle.
The Outlaws purple patch had failed to give them the score that they deserved and they were soon given a lesson in converting chances when Bramley opened up from deep and an offload in the tackle saw Bramley stretch their lead to 10-0. It was a bitter blow to the Outlaws and things nearly went from bad to worse when Bramley looked to have swept in at the corner, only for the rampant visitors to drop the ball with a 3 to 1 overlap close to the line.
The remainder of the half carried on in similar vein but resolute Outlaws defence kept the visitors out and the referee brought the first stanza to a close with the Outlaws on the back-foot but still in the match at only 10-0 in arrears.
Coach Martin Crick used the half time interval to switch things around, bringing James Saddler on to replace the injured Matt Abbott and Alex Hazeldine was also brought off the bench in a bid to pep-up the forwards.
The second half started in much the same way as the first had ended with the powerful Buffaloes forwards keeping a tight rein on the Outlaws front six. Prop forward Adam Millward in particular tried his hardest to break the line with a series of charges at the Bramley line but he could not break through, taking plenty of punishment in the process!
With the visitors well on top it seemed likely that the flood gates would open and the visitors looked like they would score again on the 45th minute but they somehow managed to drop the ball in the act of scoring. It proved to be a short respite however when 2 minutes later a pass back inside by Bramley opened up the Outlaws defence and John Elliker charged through the Outlaws line to make it 16-0 with 25 minutes still to play.
Above: Andrew Cassetari and Freddie Humphreys halt a Buffalo charge
With the mid-way point of the second half reached the Outlaws were yet to cross the half-way line but as the match moved into the final quarter the Outlaws attack finally got some field position. Once again Adam Millward made good yards before off-loading in the tackle. The ball went down the line to Ali Waring and the young winger dived for the corner, only to be pushed into touch by desperate Bramley defence.
The Outlaws attack proved to be only a short interlude however and as the match entered the 65th minute a tiring Outlaws defence let in 2 quick-fire Bramley tries including a length of the field effort by pacey full back Jimmy Waddington, straight from the scrum.
At 28-0 with 10 minutes to go many teams might have thrown in the towel but to their credit the Outlaws refused to do so. They were led in the last minutes by full-back Steve Page who continued to take the ball up into the heart of the Bramley defence, despite taking a pounding in the process and the Outlaws were nearly rewarded for their efforts.
A fine move down the line from 20 meteres out saw Outlaws winger Melbourne Weir squeeze in at the corner. However, the celebrations were short lived as the touch judge intervened to dissallow the try for a foot in touch and it proved to be the last act of the game as the referee drew proceedings to a close.
Despite the defeat, coach Martin Crick remained up-beat adding "whilst we could never match Bramley in terms of size and speed, we certainly didn't lay down our arms. We battled hard for the full 80 against the odds and as a coach, that is all I can ask for. No doubt we are doing it tough at the moment but its times like these that test the mettle of the players that step up to the plate and I thought all 17 of them were magnificent today"
Things don't get any easier for the hard pressed coach however with a tough-looking trip up the M6 next Saturday to face an inform Warrington outfit pushing for a top 2 play-off spot.
It was not all bad news for the Outlaws however as news filtered through that the Academy had comprehensively beaten Telford 42-6 to climb to the top of the Midlands Conference table, confirming that a host of new Outlaws will soon be arriving at the first team door to boost selection options next season!
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