Rugby: Early blitz prompts victory as Nance nets try double

NOTTINGHAMIANS' proud home record was systematically taken apart in a Uttoxeter-dominated opening half.

Tries from Paul Milward, Matt Nance and Mike Davies, plus a Steve Harris penalty, gave the title-chasers a healthy 20-0 lead at the break.

And despite easing off in the second period, with just one further score from Nance, the visitors romped to their 11th Midlands Four East (North) victory of the season.

The home side started brightest and after they were awarded a line-out Notts spun the ball wide, releasing their outside centre into space.

He brushed off a tackler before going over the line in the far left corner for what appeared to be the opening try.

However, the referee deemed the final pass forward and Uttoxeter were let off the hook.

Uttoxeter won the scrum and were soon gifted the opportunity to clear their lines when Notts conceded a penalty for dissent.

The home side continued to attack in the opening stages and tested the Uttoxeter defence with a kick into the corner.

Full-back Andy Gagie was calmness personified, though, with a perfectly executed clearance kick back to the halfway line from his own 22.

Notts had a further opportunity to score early on when Uttoxeter conceded a penalty for not driving straight in the scrum. However, their attempt at goal fell well short.

Eventually Uttoxeter began to wake up and started putting a few phases together.

Lee Bloor made a break and Uttoxeter began to gather momentum. Notts then conceded a penalty and Mike Conlon kicked into the corner.

Donald Hayes was on target with his line-out throw and a driving maul was set up.

After the forwards made the hard yards, the ball was spun out wide by Owen and fly-half Mike Conlon executed a set move, finding centre Bloor in space.

Bloor made another break before popping back inside to Owen. Owen moved the ball forward then released Miles Pilcher, who drew the final defender before delivering to Milward.

The winger was able to sprint into space in the far right corner to touch down for the opening points of the match with an unconverted try.

Notts continued to put pressure on Uttoxeter, but they were unable to break through the away side's tough defence.

From a line-out on Nottinghamians' five-metre line, Nance caught the ball and a maul was set up.

Uttoxeter powered forward, enabling the lock to touch down and extend Uttoxeter's lead.

Harris was on target with the conversion to make it 12-0.

Notts kicked off once more and the ball was held by Tom Lampitt.

The number eight drove forward infield, setting up the ruck. Gagie spotted the Notts winger out of position and joined the line on the blind-side.

Owen was able to feed the ball right through the hands of Gagie to James Gill, who stepped around the outside of the defender and charged into the Notts half, only to be bundled into touch.

Mike Davies then stole the ball in the line-out and the ball was soon recycled.

Owen passed to captain Andrew Moult, who thundered forward before being brought to ground. Notts were then penalised for hands in the ruck, giving Uttoxeter the chance to extend the lead with a penalty.

Harris was on target with his well-struck effort, giving the visitors a 15-0 lead.

Uttoxeter scored once more before half-time by again exploiting the blind-side. Notts expected Uttoxeter to kick out of their own 22 and their winger sat back in anticipation.

Conlon spotted the overlap and Owen passed out to the fly-half.

Conlon passed on to Gagie, who again put Gill into a gap. The winger sprinted from his own 22, first outpacing his opposite winger.

He stepped around the full-back, but was then brought to ground just five metres short of the line by the covering flanker.

Gill was able to pass to the persistent Davies, who held on to the pass and ran the ball over the line to score an unconverted try.

Uttoxeter set their attacking stall out after the break and scored early on.

They pushed into their opponents' half, but lost possession.

Notts attempted to clear the ball but Gagie claimed a superb one-handed catch. He ran the ball back infield setting up the ruck. The continued pressure from the visitors yielded a penalty and Conlon hit the ball into the corner.

Tim Carr held on to Donald Hayes's line-out throw and set up the driving maul once more. Nance secured the ball at the back and marshalled the pack forward until they were over the line and Nance touched down for his second of the afternoon.

Harris converted for 27-0 lead and what turned out to be the final points of the afternoon for the visitors.

As the second half developed, the play from both teams deteriorated.

Neither side seemed able to put a consistent number of phases together with both conceding penalties and scrums.

The frustration began to show and Tom Lampitt was sin-binned midway through the half.

Donald Hayes was replaced by Steve Woolley and, shortly afterwards, Robert Scragg was brought on following the conclusion of Lampitt's sin-binning. Matt Porter was brought on to replace Paul Milward.

In the closing stages, Notts began to push into Uttoxeter's 22. The home side were finally rewarded with a score for their persistence.

Their outside centre was given too much space and was able to accelerate wide, beating a number of tacklers before stepping back inside to beat one final player and score close to the posts.

The conversion completed the scoring at 27-7.