Castle Donington RUFC 1st XV Beaten but not Bowed by Nottingham Boots Corsairs

In their first Pre-season friendly of a new campaign, Castle Donington Rugby Club were put to the sword by a strong Nottingham Boots Corsairs side at The Bay in Nottingham. The home side got close to racking up 100 points whilst the visitors failed to trouble the scoreboard in a one sided encounter. Some might see that as a grim prelude to another season of struggle, but Castle Donington left the Nottingham club with a continued sense of optimism for the season ahead.

The Castle Donington Try line was breached within the opening seconds of the game and so it continued with great regularity. The defence was slow to react and the tackling was, on the whole, timid and ineffective. The back line failed to function as a unit and their weaknesses were cruelly exposed by some quick, skilful handling, conducted at pace, by the Corsairs backline. So why, you may ask, is there any sense of optimism within the Castle Donington club?

Of the 18 players who took the field for Castle Donington on Saturday afternoon there were 8 players under the age of 25, indeed 6 of those are 21 or under. Not only was it the youngest side that has taken the field for Castle Donington in quite some time, it was also highly inexperienced. Of the 18; 3 players were playing their first game of rugby and 2 players were playing their fist game at the club. A further 3 players are entering their first full season of playing rugby, with another 3 entering only their second season. The youngest player on the pitch was Simon Moon at just 17.

Moon was playing his first game for Castle Donington Rugby Club having previously played in the junior section at Melbourne. Formerly a prop, Moon is unable to play in the front row in senior rugby and so is in the process of making the transition to Fly Half. Whilst he clearly found the position a difficult task to cope with, there was plenty to suggest that he will grow into the role as the season progresses. Moon’s Day at Fly Half was not made any easier by the fact that his service was coming from a Scrum Half who was playing his first game of rugby, Kyle Brentnall. Brentnall has been a summer convert from football and is clearly a talented sportsman. A strong, well balanced runner with good ball skills he will, almost certainly, be a player to keep your eye on this season.

Further cause for optimism was given by the pack. The Castle Donington forwards matched their hosts in most departments with the scrum and lineout both functioning well. At times the Corsairs pack struggled to cope with their counterparts in the set plays, being driven backwards in the scrums on more than one occasion. However, the fringe defence of the visitors left a lot to be desired and the Corsairs Number 8 took full advantage with driving runs down the field throughout the game. This was a long way from Castle Donington’s strongest pack though. Club Captain, talisman and former Wasp, Alan White, returns from his family duties and will be available next weekend, as will the 23 stone bulk of Loose Head Prop Steven Bradley. Also still to return is the club’s outstanding French Flanker Jean-Eudes Michaud and 6’5” Second Row Ian Evans.

Half Backs Ben Symcox and Mark Boddy will add strength to the backline, with Boddy returning to the fold next week. The line will be strengthened further with old hands such as Rick Bentley and Julian Key yet to appear and Steve Wiggins returning to the club, having completed his degree at Hull University. All this should ensure that there is healthy competition for places in the 1st XV this season. Once the right blend of youth and experience has been found the results will undoubtedly be forthcoming, ensuring that exciting times are ahead for Castle Donington Rugby Club both on and off the field, with their links with Nottingham Rugby, in the shape of their Community Club Links Scheme, formalised last weekend in a signing ceremony completed by Club President Derek Wiggins at Meadow Lane.

Fortunately for him, Derek did not have to endure the events of Saturday afternoon, although he may have preferred to have been at The Bay. Derek was unable to attend the game at the weekend, having just undergone surgery on the Friday. Everyone at the club hopes that the procedure went well and wishes Derek a speedy recovery. Hopefully he will be available to watch the scheduled return fixture at The Spital in March where a much different result will be anticipated.

Castle Donington 1st XV V’s Nottingham Boots Corsairs;
Millington, Whittaker, Meakin, Lee, Holt, Moon, Brentnall, Whitehead, Dykes, Dabell C, Robinson, Harris, Summers, Keeling D, Kibble M.
Replacements; Cook, Harrison, Hackett.