Coalville keep playoff hopes alive

Coalville were the visitors to Notts Casuals at the weekend with the hosts fighting against relegation and the Memorial groundside pressing for the play off spot.On paper it looked like an easy victory for Coalville with several players back from injury but Casuals had the incentive to win as it would save them from any possible relegation.The Notts ground was bathed in sunlight from the kick off as Casuals came out of the blocks with all guns blazing making inroads into the Coalville 22,a few phases later and Casuals were in front with an unconverted try after 5 mins.The shell shocked visitors were soon on the backfoot again as the hosts broke through but Josh Breen made the try saving tackle to avert the danger.As the first quarter belonged to Casuals the Coalville tackle count was high but against the run of play the visitors clawed their way back into the game with a series of scrums on the Casuals 5 metre line where from Joe Rumming crashed over for the try.5-5.Coalville`s forwards came into their own now with some powerful pick and drive manoeuvres,Stewart Tang,Eddie Rotstein,Alex Collins and Sam Masserella combining well to gain vital meters but strong rearguard action from the hosts stopped any scores.More play from the visitors forwards Matt Chamberlain,Will Quail and Bill Grant got over the try line but an unsighted referee couldn`t give the score.Half time 5-5.After the break Coalville were dominant all round the park with Jordan Gadsby and Jack Tointon finally getting the backs more into the game as Michael Richmond and Joe Moretta running some great lines through the Casuals defence and setting up further attacks in the danger area.A resulting maul was pulled down by the hosts giving the referee no option but to award a penalty try for 12-5 on 50mins.Both Coalville wingers Matt Twigg and Billy Savory starved of any decent ball so far suddenly got in on the act making deep penetrating runs into enemy territory.Into the last quarter Coalville made changes as Tom Logue,Billy Measures and Joel Wallace entered the fray.Chances came to both sides but the final ball either went astray or a wrong decision was made to leave the final score of 12-5 to Coalville.No bonus point for Coalville but a victory in a hard fought game with a play off place still in the mix.