Nottingham Outlaws slumped to a disappointing 40–50 home defeat at the hands of Birmingham Bulldogs on Saturday.
In sweltering heat, the Outlaws battled hard in a game in which they took the lead on four occasions, but their inability to defend, leaking no fewer than nine tries, meant they were never fully in control of the game and fell to an eager Bulldogs outfit.
The match started well for the Outlaws, with Aiden Butler scoring in the first attack as the Outlaws opened up a 6–0 lead, but it didn’t last long as the Bulldogs scored a quick brace to lead 10–6.
The Outlaws restored their lead with a try by James Hood, and when Jake Rigby gathered a chip over the top to score a superb solo try, it seemed like an Outlaws win might be on the cards. Especially when Sam Andrews stretched the lead out to 22–14, the omens appeared good.
However, paper-thin defending meant they were never really in with a shout of victory, and a try on the half-time hooter saw the Outlaws’ lead cut back to 22–20.
A try by debutant Josh Rogerson saw the Outlaws’ lead stretch to 26–20, but Birmingham levelled on the restart in what was now turning into a “we score, you score” kind of game before Jimmy Goodwin restored the Outlaws’ lead at 30–26.
As the second stanza progressed, the Outlaws began to run out of gas as the more mobile Bulldogs cut loose to open up a two-score lead at 30–42. Chris Hudson cut the deficit with a well-taken try, and Sam Andrews notched his second, but two tries in the last few minutes saw the Bulldogs pull away to open up a well-deserved 40–50 winning margin.
After the game, there were a few players in with a shout for the Man of the Match award, but it deservedly went to Sam Andrews for a fine performance in what was his Testimonial Game.
The Outlaws now travel to Coventry on Saturday for a game which they must win to have any chance of making the play-offs.
