Castle Donington Win Again

Four Try Scorers on the back row Left to Right, Mark Laxton, Max Shaw, Piers Goode, Rick Bentley. At the Front Derek Wiggins in the starting line up for the 1st XV for the first time in three years

 

Once again "Apollo" smiled on Donington , as yet another sunny afternoon greeted them for the away fixture at Notts Casuals 3s.

 With several regular first teamers unavailable, Donington reshuffled, drafting in Derek "Degsy" Wiggins at Full Back. Fulfilling an ambition to regain a first team place, Derek proved solid in defence and safe underthe high ball.  

Donington started solidly with the pack dominant again, forcing a Casuals scrum at the 5 metre line. Donington pushed the heavier Casuals pack off their own ball and drove over with scrum half Max Shaw going over for the try, which he converted himself.

Within minutes, the Donington pack were back in the Cassuals 22 metre area, with prop Mark Laxton powering through several tackles, to score a magnificent solo try, ably converted by Max Shaw. 14-0 Soon Casuals were applying their own pressure, and were camped on the Donington try line.

The Donington defence held strong, with old timer Kevin Wood driving a Casuals forward back over the line, saving a certain try. Prop Ben Kibble was sin binned, with Casuals kicking the resulting penalty, 14-3.

Multi-talented Dan Kitchin proved he was equally at home in the No 10 shirt as the 15, when he lofted a high ball for Rick Bentley to catch and score in a copy-cat try of Kitchins own try last week. Converted by Max Shaw, 21-3.

The free flowing tries dried up in the second half, until Donington regrouped, Julian Valentine started a move, with the ball passing through nearly every Donington hand, and Piers Goode scoring an unconverted try in the corner, 26-6.

Returning a penalty kick from there own 22, once again nearly every Donington player was involved in a text book try with Goode again going over in the corner for another unconverted try.

Final Score: Castle Donington 31, Notts Casuals 6.

Man of the Match: Mark Laxton

Even with regular key players missing, we have the depth to still put out a competitive side and play exciting rugby.

Match Report by Lee Taylor