BIRMINGHAM BULLDOGS 20 OUTLAWS 42 (7/6/2008)

Report by Richard Johnson

Photos by Gav Slater (gallery)

Nottingham Outlaws Rugby League Club kept their 100% record alive as they made it 6 wins out of 6 when they beat a determined Birmingham Bulldogs team 42-20. In doing so the Outlaws reached the mid-way point of the season still unbeaten in all competitions and whilst the win was not a classic, the Outlaws always held the upper-hand against their dogged but ultimately well-beaten opponents.

The Outlaws went into the game with a number of enforced changes, some positional and others forced on coach Crick by a number of late withdrawls and unavailabilities. The re-shuffle saw loose forward Rob Brown drafted into the unfamiliar position as full back, Ben Radford drafted into the pack and first team debuts for Loughborough students Dan Ljazouli and Aled Hills.

The new-look line-up seemed to struggle for cohesion in the opening exchanges and a frustrating opening phase saw the Outlaws give away territory and possession as the home side took the game to the league leaders. With a spate of early penalties in the Bulldogs favour the Outlaws were under the cosh and this early indiscipline saw the Outlaws go 2-0 behind when the home team notched an early penalty. It could have been worse when rangey centre Tom Howley took out his frustration on his opposite number but the referee let the young tyro off with a warning when it seemed like a yellow card might make an appearance.

Above: Tom Howley gets physical as Martin Edwards looks to jump on board

After a shaky start, the Outlaws attacking machine at last began to click into gear and with their first meaningful attack George Strachan scored a superb individual try. The powerful second-rower took the ball at full pace from less than 5 metres out and he bumped off his opposite number before spinning in the collision and driving over the line for a superb opening score that nudged the Outlaws 4-2 ahead. The Strachan score was quickly followed by another sweeping Outlaws attack in which the ball fizzed down the line before Calland dummied to pass only to step into a yawning gap. As the Birmingham cover enveloped him the wily stand off slipped the ball to supporting half back Jimmy lewis and the young ball-player waltzed over the line for a fine try. Thornton bagged his second conversion of the match and at 12-2 the Outlaws had steadied their early nerves and were on the hunt for more tries.

As the Outlaws attack began to find more cohesion the points began to flow and next over the whitewash was centre Tom Howley. The scoring move was started by a great break from the hardworking Ben Thornton who made huge inroads into the Birningham defence. With the home defence shot to pieces up stepped young Tom Howley who showed he knew the way to the line as he powered over for a try that made it 16-2 in the Outlaws favour at the mid-way point of the first half.

With the Outlaws attack now in full gear more tries were inevitable and it wasnt long before the next score came and once again it was George Strachan who showed the way. The elusive second-rower burst onto the ball on the half-way line and broke through a static home defence. With Strachan in the clear the visiting fans expected the home defence to scramble across but the young star showed a suprising turn of pace that put some daylight between him and the chasing defenders and the block-busting forward notched his second try of the match. Thornton calmly slotted over the extras and at 22-2 the Outlaws had the game by the scruff of the neck.

Above: Debut prop Dan Ljazouli hits the ball up

As the game entered the second quarter the visiting fans waited for the now-familiar floodgates to open as the Outlaws attack reached overdrive but the expected onslaught never materialised. Instead a dogged Birmingham team found some resolve and started to thwart the Outlaws with some good defence. With the Bulldogs at last began to find some bite the Outlaws attack wavered and the game entered a rather scrappy phase. As the Outlaws became more disjointed the Bulldogs began to grow in confidence and on the stroke of half time it was Birmingham who posted a deserved try to peg the score back to 22-8 and give them a sniff of a comeback as the referee drew the first stanza to a close.

During the half time team talk coach Martin Crick spoke calmly but firmly to his charges, stressing the need for greater set completion and more cohesion and speed on defence. Indeed, the lesson seemed to have hit home as straight from the re-start the Outlaws moved the ball down the field and a good positional kick from Calland saw the Birmingham defence fumble for an early Outlaws scrum in the Birmingham red zone. The re-charged Outlaws quickly seized on the opportunity and the ball zipped down the threequarters strauight to Chris McNamara on the opposite wing. As the home defence scrambled the young pace star still had quite a bit of work to do but he showed great evasive skills as he expertly stepped inside to weave his way over for a fine try despite the attention of 2 defenders.

Buoyed by the score the Outlaws stepped up a gear and within 2 minutes they stretched the lead further as they scored the try of the match.. The move started out on the left wing and the ball passed between no fewer than 6 pairs of hands before Strachan found himself out in the right centre position. The young second rower showed that he had guile as well as brute force and he expertly drew his opposite defender before releasing Martin Edwards on the wing and the young powerhose scorched over in the corner for a great try that took the Outlaws into a formidable 32-8 lead.

From the re-start the Outlaws went looking for more tries but they were immediately hit by a sucker punch and it was Birmingham who were next over the whitewash. The home team launched an attack from deep inside their own half and there seemed little danger until the home winger slipped out of a tackle and another missed tackle saw the Bulldogs coast under the sticks for a converted try to pull it back to 32-14. However within minutes the game switched back up the other end and the lead was restored when a superb crossfield bomb by Jimmy Lewis saw Howley get above his opposite number to pass to substitute Foxon and the startled winger scored a try with his first touch of the ball! Ben Thornton calmly added the extras to stretch the lead to 38-14

Above: Man-of-the-Match Ben Radford proved a handful for the Bulldogs defence

Despite the healthy lead the home team refused to throw in the towel and as the game entered the last quarter it was Birmingham wh held a monopoly on possession and they should have posted more points from a period of continuous possession. However, the Outlaws limited the scoring to just one try and at 38-20 the game was secured with 5 minutes to go and just to put the icing on the cake the Outlaws attack made one last forray into the Birmingham half and they instantly came up with another try as a simple attacking move saw good hands release powerful prop forward Dan Ljazouli and the young prop capped a superb debut with a try from close range to wrap up the scoring with the Outlaws in command and holding a 42-20 victory margin.

As the tired players trudged off the pitch they knew that they had not been at their best yet had still won the game with something to spare and whilst a few players were slightly off parr with their performance, it certainly wasnt the case for Ben Radford. The rampaging centre had been switched to the second row for the game and he showed that he could handle the step up to the big boys with ease and he rightly was awarded the man of the match for a superb performance, especially on attack.

After the match coach Martin Crick was philosophical about a comfortable yet patchy win adding "today it was really a case of "after the lord mayors show". We beat league leaders Coventry with our best ever performance last week and today we never came close to matching that level of intensity. However, a 22 point win is still a fair margin away from home against determined opponents and with 6 wins out of 6 I can't really grumble"

For their next match, The Outlaws play their first ever game under floodlights at The Bay when they entertain Leicester Phoenix on Friday evening, kick-off 8.00pm.