OUTLAWS 8 HEMEL STAGS 22
Report by Ant Bullick
Nottingham Outlaws put in a brave showing as they were beaten by a bigger Hemel Stags side 22-8 in blustery conditions at The Bay on Saturday.
The Outlaws' performance, as ever, was full of effort and determination but Martin Crick's side were just not clinical enough when in possession to pose any real threat.
The Stags were visibly larger than their Nottingham counterparts and the difference in size was a key contributor as the Hertfordshire side made it six wins from six, the complete reverse of the Outlaws who have now lost their last six outings.
The Outlaws went into the match missing twelve players, many from the pack, but were able to welcome back Nathan Walmsley from his try-scoring international debut for England Lionhearts last weekend.
Simon Perry (knee), Aidan Pritchard (shoulder), Oliver Crick (ankle) and new signing Nick Cooper (flu) were among the names M Crick was unable to choose from heading into the match against the team occupying third spot in the Rugby League Conference National.
The match was a physical affair from the off with every player going into the tackle giving 100% commitment as both teams sought to gain a strong foothold in the game.
The first 20 minutes were evenly matched before Hemel scored three tries in a 13 minute first half spell.
Sean Johnson was the first to go over for the score as the visitors took full advantage of a penalty against Nottingham for interfering at the play the ball. BJ Swindles missed the conversion.
Swindles managed to put points on the board six minutes later after a knock on at the play the ball and a penalty for stripping left Nottingham defending a set of six on their own goalline and had no answer for a powerful run from the full-back.
Half-an-hour into the game and the hosts were 12-0 down when Eddie M'barage made Jimmy Lewis pay for a wayward pass. The Outlaws, usually reliable with his distribution, attempted a long pass but the winds by the River Trent caught hold of the ball and the ball bounced out back in Nottingham territory.
The Stags worked the ball down the right hand side before a cross field kick bounced straight into the arms of the on-rushing M'barage who touched down.
Nottingham, who worked tirelessly throughout the game, got themselves on the score sheet before half-time after Hemel were penalised for dissent Outlaws captain Paul Calland showed a good step out wide before releasing Simon Chilcott to score. Walmsley missed the extras.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first half with a lot of physical play down the middle of the field with no score for the first twenty minutes before Hemel extended their lead.
A Nottingham knock-on put the Outlaws under pressure and, despite some clear obstruction on Tim Thompson-Essex, the referee awarded the try to Jason Price. Swindles' conversion attempt was successful to make the scores 4-18.
The Outlaws battled back again with a well worked move from the scrum. Calland kicked on the first tackle as he was fed the ball from the scrum and winger Dom Walsh, named in the RLC National Dream Team for May, beat everyone to the ball to touch down just before it rolled dead. Walmsley missed the conversion from out wide to leave the score 8-18.
Any hopes of a Nottingham comeback were dashed eight minutes from time as Jamie Acton crossed the try line for the score and move M Crick's side out of bonus point contention in the process.
After the game, the Outlaw's head coach was full of praise for his battling players.
"Every single player out there gave it their all from start to finish today.
"Hemel are easily the biggest side we have played against this season and it was our play on the ball that let us down - not our play in defence
"It would have been easy for my guys to get bullied out of the tackle with the size of their team but the Outlaws are not going to let that happen, especially in front of our home crowd.
"Had our execution been a little better and if we had shown the ball more respect and not knocked-on when we did, it could have been a completely different story.
"We should have had two tries in the second half and Nate (Walmsley) had two breaks up the middle which, had a different option been taken from the young lad, could have resulted in points.
"It's an understatement to say we haven't had the first half of the season that we wanted. One win out of eight doesn't make for pretty reading.
"However, we have not been blown out of the water in any of the losses and I firmly believe we will go into the second half of the season, starting with Liverpool at home next Saturday, ready to pick up the wins we deserve and get ourselves in the play-offs."
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