Nottingham Outlaws succumbed to a 19-6 defeat in their last round of regular league fixtures at local rivals Sherwood Wolf Hunt on Saturday. The defeat means that the Outlaws will finish in second place in the table, still guaranteed a home fixture when the end of season play-offs start on the 3rd August.
The Outlaws went into the game with pretty much the same side that lost out against Birmingham the week before although there was a welcome return for vice captain Gareth Whitfield, Jon Hemmingway and Joe Moran who was pulling on a first team shirt for the first time in three seasons.
The match started with neither side being able to make an impression in the face of some stout defending but it was the Outlaws that were making most of the territorial battle and after 16 minutes they opened their account when a fine break by Luke Wadding saw him release to Jacob Butler and the young centre strode over for the opening score. Ashby slotted over for the extras and the Outlaws led 6-0.
Disaster then struck when major play-maker Whitfield left the arena destined to take no further part in the game, seriously blunting the Outlaws attack for the rest of the game.
The Outlaws ascendency was suddenly halted and the enthusiastic home side opened their account when they lost the ball from a steep kick and Sherwood regathered to score out wide. Five minutes later they repeated the test and once again the Outlaws knocked on from the kick and once again the home side capitalised to nudge 10-6 in front as the half time hooter sounded.
The second stanza started in much the same way as the first with neither side able to break down some uncompromising defence and after sixteen minutes of second half play neither side could make an impression with the game deadlocked.
With defences on top Sherwood extended their lead to 12-6 with a penalty after the Outlaws made a hash of the high ball and five minutes later they went further ahead and once again it was a kick that did the damage as a high bomb was collected by the attacking side in a one-on-one contest and Sherwood strode over for a converted try that extended the home lead to two scores at 18-6.
In the remaining fifteen minutes the Outlaws tried their best to get over the whitewash but in all honesty they lacked the cutting edge to open up the Sherwood defence and it was the home side who closed out the scoring with a well taken drop goal to seal the game at 19-6.
Despite the defeat the Outlaws had put up a much-improved performance compared the previous weeks dismal showing against Birmingham. Indeed there were a number of stand-out performances from individual players, led by man of the match Luke Wadding who had a fine eighty minutes, his best of the season.
The Outlaws now have the luxury of a week off before they start their all-important play-off campaign. They will be guaranteed a home game but their opposition will not be decided until next week’s final round of fixtures.