Despite the final result Valley were perhaps unlucky to come away with a loss after keeping the hosts Notts Casuals quiet for much of this Midlands 4 League encounter.

With a strong wind the game was always going to be decided by the team that scored the most points with the wind at their back, and Valley were looking good as half time approached. They had restricted Casuals to two penalties with 30 minutes gone and were looking fairly comfortable in defence.

But Casuals’ perseverance paid off and they scored two tries in relatively quick succession to suddenly make the scoreline 20-0, a much more daunting, but still achievable target for the visitors to meet in the second half when they would have the considerable assistance of the wind.

Valley had their opportunities in the first half but with the violent wind it only took one mistake to put them back deep into their own half.

Elliott Boam, back in the first XV at outside centre, was putting himself about showing some good touches with ball in hand and some good tackles in defence.

But it was a tackle by Shaun Dowdall on the Casuals full-back which took the tackle of the match award. A set piece move by the home side was well read by Dowdall who put in a massive hit, which must have left some doubts in the Casuals backs about trying to break through the centres.

Valley also had some good attacking ball, the line-out working well, Richter and Butlin taking good ball and disrupting the Casuals ball, and the wind again making life difficult for both hookers.

So although Valley had no points on the board at the turnaround they were content with the performance and 20 points looked in reach.

It all started brightly, Dowdall slotting a long-range penalty early in the half and then Valley could finally start attacking.

Luke Willan made good use of the space, mixing the plays up well, both Dowdall and Boam were making good use with the ball and the forwards were beginning to gain the upper hand at the breakdown.

Pilkington also showed his experience distributing the ball well and providing some direction to Valley’s rolling mauls, Artliff and Leadbeater both showed their strength and proved that despite the new laws on pulling mauls down Valley could still make use of them.

Valley’s first try came from a period of sustained pressure.