  |
||||||||||
Second half rampage leaves Elks reeling
Midlands One East
ILKESTON 19 MANSFIELD 29
Report by Paul ElliottA ground which was doubtful up to minutes before kick off fortunately stayed playable for 80 minutes. It, and two sides determined to play open rugby, served up a game to warm supporters with seven tries and more than that number of five metre scrums after ball was held over the line.
The opening exchanges certainly saw Ilkeston in the ascendancy. Despite Hooper dealing with the kick off and Donaldson and Simmons wrestling possession Mansfield were scrambling in defence. On nine minutes Wills recovered a chip ball but only at the expense of a five metre scrum. After a push over try attempt was thwarted Ilkeston chose to spin the ball left and went over for a try in the corner, well converted. Two minutes later, somewhat controversially, a second try was run in. The pick up and race to the line followed a knock on obscured from the referee. Twelve points on the board and it looked like a long torrid afternoon for the Blue and Whites.
However, gradually parity came to the set scrums and Mansfield got more support to the breakdown. Russ Coleman twice linked with Alan Symcox then Robinson and Wills moved play forty metres. Adam Shaw darted providing both brother Lee and Williams the opportunity to kick to attacking positions.
Both sides contrived to miss penalties before Mansfield stepped up a gear for a pulsating last ten minutes of the half. Robinson sent the ball long and Russ Coleman chased, tackled and forced a Mansfield penalty. A line out fifteen metres from the home line saw McGregor and Joe Symcox combine to reach the five metre line. Mansfield was there for six attacks. Grant was held on the line, Johnson and Simons over it and Pritchard twice looked to be there. A penalty saw Ilkeston reduced to fourteen for ten minutes but still they held out, mighty relieved to hear the half time whistle still 12-0 in front.
The restart had Russ Coleman recovering the ball before Alan Symcox, Grant and Pritchard pegged the home side back. Adam Shaw took a tap penalty and with the Elks in retreat Williams linked and Wills flew for the corner. He made the line but not without a foot in touch that only temporarily delayed Mansfield’s first score. From a scrum Adam Shaw made space, Alan Symcox drew defenders and then passed for Robinson to power over. Despite the angle Lee Shaw added the extras and the tide had definitely turned.
Mansfield continued to send the home side back in to defence and unleash the pace of their wing men. Alan Symcox was over the line but couldn’t ground the ball Simmons was inches from a try and McGregor couldn’t quite stretch far enough. Fifty three minutes and the lead went to the visitors. In his first real contact since replacing Joe Symcox Arnold twisted and drove with the front eight as the bodies were peeled back he was cradling the ball for the try and Lee Shaw again struck well.
With confidence soaring Donaldson not only retrieved the kick off but set off through three tacklers and a certain try was halted by a marginal forward pass. To demonstrate the turnaround from the opening spell an Ilkeston scrum on halfway was disrupted and a penalty conceded. Williams stepped up and from 48 metres kicked Mansfield to a five point lead.
Once again Mansfield were bearing down on the home line. A defensive scrum saw a hasty clearance which Adam Shaw took at full stretch. He and his backs sped left and Russ Coleman crowned his most confident game in blue and white hoops with the try. Two more minutes and try number four made it 29-12 and the game Mansfield’s. Straight back on attack Adam Shaw kicked high where his chase, the bounce of the ball and lightning reactions from Wills took the winger clear and Lee Shaw again converted.
A double substitution and the fresh legs of Ian Coleman and Hough gave Mansfield much needed defensive cover and tackling prowess as a series of injuries and temporary treatment breaks gave the home side the chance to finish with a flourish. One try and conversion came their way but the gap was too much to see Mansfield denied the points.
‘Some of our best rugby of the season, we created and took the chances on offer’ summed up Coach Steve Shaw. ‘We need to build on this through the second half of the season.’
Saturday sees Mansfield attempting to play their away game at Stewart and Lloyds. They rallied at Eakring Road before losing 43 – 33. The ground at Corby was unfit last weekend so the home side will hope to get this game out of the way and reduce their backlog. Mansfield will look to carry on for the double and make it a hat trick of league wins at the start of 2010.