FEATHERSTONE LIONS 20 OUTLAWS 10
Report by Richard Johnson
A badly depleted Nottingham Outlaws travelled up the M1 on Saturday to play high-flying Featherstone Lions in hope rather than expectation. However, in a tense and at times gripping match, the Outlaws made the Lions battle all the way before suffering a narrow 20-10 defeat. In doing so, they managed to come back with some reward for their efforts, picking up their third bonus point in as many weeks.
Pre-match preparations could not have been any worse as a host of late withdrawls left coach Martin Crick scrabbling around for options. He was forced to reach down into the Academy ranks as he drafted Phil Page, Bryn Waldram and Ali Waring into the squad to replace the missing Mostyn, Morton and McNamara. Captain Paul Calland bravely pulled on a shirt, defying doctors orders to rest a hamstring strain and new Aussie recruit Andrew Cassetari was put onto the bench less than 48 hours after landing at Heathrow!
A quick check down the team sheets in recent weeks soon revealed that the hard-pressed Outlaws coach has been forced to use no less than 34 players in the first 6 matches of the current league campaign!
The 2 teams entered the arena to be met by a stiff breeze and incessant rain. Even before a ball was struck it was clear to the watching faithfull that retaining the ball in hand was going to be something of a lottery!
In the opening exchanges the Outlaws looked somewhat hesitant in possession as their new-look team struggled to gel on attack, dropping the ball early in the tackle count on 3 occasions in the opening quarter. However, their defence was much more reliable and they kept a tight leash on the larger Featherstone pack as neither side could break down some resolute defending from both teams.
As the rain became heavier the handling became more and more difficult and the game was in danger of turning into a knock-on-athon as both sides struggled to keep hold of what was rapidly turning into something resembling a bar of soap rather than a rugby ball!
It was from an Outlaws lost ball on the 18 minute mark that the home team opened the scoring. As the Outlaws lost possession in their own red zone an eager Lions attack swooped on the ball and two quick drives later they barged their way over for the opening score and a 6-0 lead.
Try as they might the Outlaws could not get out of their half for most of the opening 30 minutes and 2 successive forty-twenty kicks by the Lions kept them starved of possession and field position. Indeed, from the second of these long touch-finders the eager Lions attack broke from the scrum and passed the ball wide. At first it appeared that the Outlaws had the numbers to snuff out the attack but poor man-on-man marking saw the Lions scoot over in the corner for a converted try and a 10-0 lead.
With the clock reaching the 35 minute mark the Outlaws were still struggling to get out of their own half and were having to defend heroicly to keep the Lions at bay. However, the match suddenly took an unexpected twist.
With the Lions launching yet another attack on the Outlaws 40 metre line, try-poacher Paul Calland shot out of the defensive line to intercept a Lions pass intended for their now stranded winger. The Outlaws captain quickly set off in a foot race to the try line. The desperate Featherstone cover swept across and managed to haul down the Notts skipper just short but the greasy conditions saw him slide over the line with 2 defenders in tow to open the Outlaws account.
However, joy quickly turned to despair as the Outlaws sharp shooter had to be led from the field after popping a shoulder in the act of scoring and he was quickly replaced by debutant Andrew Casetari.
The remainder of the first half continued in much the same vein with the Outlaws defending resolutely before referee drew the first stanza to a close with the Outlaws very much in the game with a narrow 10-6 deficit to overcome.
The half time break saw coach Martin Crick re-shuffle his pack as he brought lively second rower James Sadler into the fray in order to add a bit more speed into the ruck area. The forward switch seemed to do the trick and a revved-up Outlaws started the second stanza much more brightly.
Indeed, they couldnt have wished for a better start when a superb kick-off from Nathan Walmsley, his third of the match, bounced wickedly into touch, giving the Outlaws head and feed on the Lions 20 metre line. The eager Outlaws swarmed forward and straight from the scrum the ever-improving Dom Walsh latched onto the ball in the centres and powered his way over the line for a superb solo effort. Walmsley added the extras from the touchline and at 10-10 the match was in the balance!
Buoyed by the Walsh try, the Outlaws began to take a grip on the match. They were led by powerful second-rower Tim Thompson-Essex who was playing only his second game for the Outlaws. The rangey Loughborough student put in a series of big shots on the Lions forwards and for the first time in the match the Outlaws pack began to take control of field position and possession as the Featherstone pack began to run out of steam.
Sensing that the game was there for the taking, the Outlaws increased the pace of their attacks but they were continually thwarted by good Lions defence and a series of dropped balls, often with the help of Featherstone hand, which went unseen by the referee!
Captain Paul Calland bravely re-entered the fray, having had his shoulder put back into place, in a desperate attempt to try and grab a win and the gamble nearly paid off as Walmsley went close on two occasions but each time his chip over the defence just bounced the wrong way when a kinder bounce would have yielded a try.
Having failed to grab the all important score, the Outlaws fell behind on the 70th minute to a hotly-disputed try!
Gutsy defence managed to hold out repeat Lions sets on their line and the danger appeared to be over for the Outlaws. However, a speculative Lions up-and-under caught the wind and bounced wickedly. The Lions winger attempted to scoop up the ball but appeared to knock-on in the process. With the Outlaws defenders stopping for the whistle, the referee allowed play to continue and the Lions winger sauntered under the posts for a gift 6-pointer and a 16-0 lead for the Lions.
The Lions score seemed to deflate the Outlaws and another score by the home team in the closing stages gave them a somewhat flattering 20-10 lead with 2 minutes to play. However, the Outlaws hung-on to claim a much-deserved bonus point as the referee drew proceedings to a close.
As the deflated Outlaws left the field the initial feeling was one of dissapointment. The Lions were there for the taking but a series of lost balls at crucial times had seen their opportunity of victory slip away from them. However, on reflection a make-shift Outlaws team had battled magnificently to keep up with a third-placed Featherstone team that will no doubt be there or there-abouts when the play-offs come around in August.
Choosing a man of the match was always going to be a difficult job with so many players stepping up to the plate when needed. However, there were no complaints when the Outlaws coach awarded the trophy to second-rower Tim Thompson-Essex. The rookie second rower was playing only his second match in an Outlaws shirt but he is growing in confidence by the minute and looks set to have a great season.
Coach Martin Crick was quick to praise his troops for their effort and commitment in the post-match press-briefing. However, his thoughts then immediately turned to Saturdays home-match against Carlisle. The match against the winless Cumbrians has now turned into a must-win game if the Outlaws are to have any chance of getting into a top-6 position and with it a crack at the end of season play-offs.
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