Another win sets up final day showdown
PROMOTION appears to remain in Ashbourne’s own hands after they completed a hard-earned 19-12 win at home to Nottingham Casual on Saturday in Counties 2 Midlands East North.
The Cocks are two points ahead of Nottingham Moderns in the race for second place and visit them for their last game of the season this coming Saturday.
However, the unknown is what the league’s ruling body will decide about the recent game between Moderns and Gainsborough, which was abandoned at half-time for disciplinary reasons.
It appears unlikely that the game will be replayed but whether either or both sides will be penalised remains to be seen.
Regardless of that, Ashbourne did what had to be done at home to Casuals.
They were pushed back initially as the visitors put together some good phases to get to within five metres but were then pushed back by excellent defending.
Ashbourne got back outside their 22 and James Lyon won a good turnover, allowing Jonny Cantellow to kick to touch.
The home side then scored the first try when Eddie Trethewey received the ball from Cantellow and was given plenty of time to make the right pass to the space in front of Jonny Riley.
The winger seared past his opponent and went the distance from halfway to score.
Two more tries followed quickly. Brilliant control again from Cantellow got them moving forward and
Will Trethewey took the ball from five metres out to step through the defence and touch down.
Lyon scored the third, taking an off-load from Eddie Trethewey to go over from a metre out.
In the second half, Ashbourne defended superbly to maintain their lead, soaking up a lot of pressure.
Josh Wheeldon was responsible for a try-saving effort, chasing a kick through into space, securing the ball and breaking through tackles with a good run.
The work-rate from back rowers Toby Ainsworth and Alfie Smith was excellent and Casuals, hard as they battled, could not get closer than seven points.
Riley, who converted two of the tries, was named man of the match in a game sponsored by David Calladine Builders.
Ashbourne seconds’ winning run in Counties 3 Midlands East (Central) ended with a 67-13 away defeat to Rolls-royce but the thirds had a 51-3 home win over Rugeley. The Colts reached the NLD Plate final when a late try gave them a 28-24 win away to Market Rasen.