HEMEL STAGS 28 OUTLAWS 20
Report by Ant Bullick
Nottingham Outlaws ended their season with what Head Coach Martin Crick described as "a game that summed our season up" as they lost 28-20 to Hemel Stags on Sunday.
The Outlaws battled back from an early 12-0 deficit to lead 14-12 at the break before Hemel outgunned their opponents in the second half as Nottingham left Pennine Way with their seventh bonus point of the season.
Crick said: "We should have come away with victory, it's as simple as that. "We had the chances to get points on the board but we made mistakes and gave the ball back to Hemel on their own try line, and three times we inexplicably let them through our line as they went the length of the field to score.
"But that is the game of Rugby League. You need to take your chances and if you make a mistake then you need to ensure you work to get that ball back."
Nottingham found themselves in a hole after 22 minutes as Hemel scored two converted tries as they threatened to run away with the game, with a win needed to secure third place in the league. But in typical Outlaws fashion, they dug deep and battled back to draw level and then take the lead with the last kick of the half.
First a powerful run from George Strachan caused problems for the Hemel defence and the loose forward managed to offload in the tackle to stand-off Oliver Crick who released Nick Cooper down the right wing for the try.
Then five minutes later they found themselves level as Hemel could not cope with the passing of the Outlaws attack as the ball made its way through the hands of Matt Abbott, Bryn Waldram, Crick and back to Abbott who crashed over for the score.
Nathan Walmsley converted both tries and then on the stroke of half time the England Lionheart kicked a penalty from 40 metres out to send the Outlaws in at the break holding a slender lead.
Nottingham's defence continued to dominate the big physical Hemel outfit and the home side illustrated their respect for how difficult it was to gain yards by opting to go for two points when awarded a penalty inside Outlaws territory.
They missed the penalty but put Nottingham to the sword and scored three tries in seven minutes to give them a 26-14 lead heading into the final 20 minutes. All Hemel tries came after Nottingham had been threatening at the other end only for Hemel to quickly work their way down field to touch down.
Nottingham continued to fight as they looked to end their season on a high and good work from Freddie Humphries took the Outlaws close to the line before Simon Morton, making his return from injury, fed the ball from dummy-half to Strachan to give Nottingham hope of a fight back.
Walmsley made no mistake with the boot. Waldram almost completed the comeback but the centre was held up over the line in the final 10 minutes of the game.
Hemel kicked a penalty at the death to make the final score 28-20. "It has been a tough season in 2010," added M Crick. "But a lot of young guys have stepped up and played extremely well and the experience gained will only make them, and the club, stronger.
"Players like Humphries and Abbott have come on leaps and bounds over the course of the season and I have been thoroughly impressed with their work ethic and play on the field.
"It was disappointing not to end the season with a win but we will now re-group over the winter and start planning for a successful 2011."
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