Bulls break down Casuals’ stubborn defence

The first quarter of the match was a scrappy affair with neither side able to keep the ball long enough to affect the scoreboard. Ives were often gaining territory, but Casuals determined defence kept them out.
The hosts had the clearest chance when a sweeping attack saw them go the length of the field only to knock the ball on with the final pass.
With the half hour passed and the game still scoreless, Ives gained a scrum five metres out. With the backs running dummy lines behind, Will Sutton picked from the base and muscled his way over, converting his own try.
Half time 0-7.
The second half set into a familiar pattern. Ives would gain territory; Casuals defence was strong enough to hold them out.
Entering the final quarter of the game, Sutton had nudged Ives further ahead with two penalties, but the game was still not safe.
There followed an intense period of pressure by the Bulls on Casuals’ line. Finally spreading the ball wide, Ollie Raine darted through the defence to score.
From the kick off, Paul Ashbridge put in another raking touch finder to maintain the Ives stranglehold on territory. And once more, after a series of pick and goes, the release of the ball wider saw Raine go over for his second. With Sutton converting both, Ives were 27 points up with fifteen minutes remaining.
Casuals were determined to get back into the game and some ill discipline by the visitors offered penalties up. The hosts were taking the penalties quickly and rounded the Ives defence to score a converted try.
It was then the Bulls’ turn to defend well and see out a hard earned victory.
Head Coach Paul Humphreys commented, “It was a game where we huffed and puffed and never got going. Credit to Casuals, their defence held firm and they worked hard for each other. To turn around 7-0 up was a consolation as Casuals threatened to capitalise on our errors, but good cover snuffed out the chances they created.
“We regrouped at half-time and worked out a way forward. The boys responded and started to ease into the game and exert some dominance and we were able to get points on the board. We then seemed to relax a little and started to play and we created and found space, allowing us to bag a few tries and pull away.
“I told the lads at the end how proud I was at the way they had dug deep, showed resilience and found a way to win. That resilience will hold us in good stead as the season unfolds.”