Match Report

 Nottingham II 52-10 Northampton

21/07/07 (Courtesy of Northampton Casuals)

 

A depleted Northampton team had to call on a couple of old heads to fill out the team today, as they travelled up the M1 to take on the Nottingham Outlaws second team. With so many players missing, due to work, holidays, and RU commitments, chairman Andy Quirke was forced to play his second game of the season, and coach Richard Heighton came out of retirement to play on the wing.

 

Despite the recent rain, the Nottingham pitch was in good shape, and the hosts were able to turn out a full squad. Nottingham started at great pace, scoring almost a point a minute, and were twenty-two points up before Howes was able to step through the middle of the defence on the twenty eight minute mark. The halftime score was 28-4 in favour of Nottingham.

 

In the second half, Northampton improved their game, and went close to scoring on two occasions, before Howes was able to grab Northampton’s second try, on the left wing, closing the game to 34-10. The lack of reserves meant a tiring Northampton then started to fade, leading to a final score of Nottingham 52, Northampton 10.

 

Stefan Fowler stepped up to take the captaincy of the team and led the team exceptionally well. Young props Makepeace and Barford showed maturity beyond their years, playing the toughest position on the pitch. Howes was in typical form, and his two tries today took him to seven for the season, joint top of the try scoring chart.