Nottingham withstand second-half stranglehold

NOTTINGHAM produced enough slick moments to topple Pirates by three tries to two at Lady Bay on Friday evening.

The best move came from full-back Sean Scanlon who shot nearly 60 metres to claim a fine individual try. It was all part of an excellent first half from the bustling Nottingham team who were backing up a win at Doncaster two weeks ago.

Scanlon was set free by Murray McConnell’s decision to attack the blindside after fielding a Pirates kick ahead. McConnell had also pounced early on to cancel out the first of two tries by Pirates hooker Dan Frost.

Nottingham surged 20-8 ahead thanks to Scanlon’s try in the 35th minute and another from wing David Williams five minutes earlier.

Williams, formerly on Leicester’s academy list, has now scored a try in six successive games for Nottingham. The 23-yearold’s latest was a simple run in after Nottingham had ripped apart the Pirates from a set move off a line-out.

Such tries have come regular sights in Nottingham’s season, especially before Christmas when Neil Fowkes’ team won six Championship games out of seven. After a sticky period following New Year, Nottingham are finding form again.

“We are a hard-working team and full credit to the lads for the way they are sticking at it,” head coach Neil Fowkes said. “If we can gain enough good ball we have the fast guys outside to put the tries away.”

The first half produced all the fireworks as the second period descended into a forward struggle, the only points coming from a penalty by Will Cargill three minutes into the half.

Pirates came back strongly after Nottingham had scored those two tries in five minutes.

Frost’s second try, very near the half-time whistle, rewarded a sustained spell of pressure.

Pirates maintained the stranglehold straight after the interval and Cargill’s penalty made the scoreline 20-18.

However, the two teams failed to score again as the match slowed and became more stop-start.

Pirates boss Gavin Cattle was very proud of his team’s efforts.

“We are a little bit victims of our success,” he said following a quick turn-around after last Sunday’s 58-26 defeat at Ealing Trailfinders in the Championship Cup.

He added: “It took us time to get going, but we competed throughout and gave them a good game.”