Tip Top Mansfield ease past Elks.
Powergen Midlands 2 East
ILKESTON 3 MANSFIELD 17
Mansfield’s title challenge maintained its momentum, surviving a potential banana skin at Ilkeston. Five enforced changes, and the tension of a local derby, made light of any top versus bottom preconceptions and made this an excellent victory.
A glue pot of a surface made free flowing rugby hard to make tracks through and the biting wind and wet ball contributed to the numerous dropped passes. Indeed Mansfield spilled three passes with the line at their mercy in a second half when they really cut loose and dominated proceedings. Add to the weather’s influence a dramatic slope on the newly adopted stadium pitch at The Stute and it was understandable that Coach John Tasker, in cliché mood, was able to refer to “a game of two halves.”
Mansfield started the brighter with Rushby soon in the action cutting through before linking with Martin Davies and Taylor. Ilkeston found their first line out snaffled up by Pike and Jones was able to exploit a gap in midfield. Even in these opening exchanges it was obvious that both defences were up for their duties and rapidly covering any half breaks and chances.
Pritchard and Pike were causing the Elks problems in the line out and both linked with Kirk, Rutter and Terry Davies in Mansfield’s most promising move before the inevitable knock on allowed the home side to clear. Taking play out of their half, where they had spent the majority of the opening ten minutes Ilkeston were able to use the slope and elements to command the rest of the half. Robinson was rock solid under a series of high balls and both Draycott and Brown reacted quickly to secure angled grubbers.
On twenty minutes Ilkeston opened the scoring with a simple penalty but that was all they could show for their efforts. Even with Terry Davies off the field for a lengthy spell of treatment they failed to get past Taylors covering tackles and indeed a skilfully worked counter by Rushby and Draycott could have given the Blue and Whites the lead but the final pass was adjudged forward.
The half ended with Williams and Kirk taking play up the touchline, Pike reacting first to the loose ball and Jones just failing to make the line. Those promising signals found reward immediately after the break. A high tackle on Draycott saw Calladine tap and drive play fifteen yards. Rutter planted another penalty into touch a dozen yards from the line. Pritchard’s clean catch and delivery was taken on by Newbold, Davies and the whole pack arrived to drive over with the ball worked to the back by Pike and Calladine for Williams to claim the first try of the game.
Mansfield kept the pressure on through Rutter’s pinpoint kicks deep backed up by chasing tacklers to pen Ilkeston at the bottom of a difficult slope. Rushby continued to find gaps and the whole Mansfield side continued to drop their passes to allow the Elks off the hook. The forwards decided that they should dictate the outcome and exerted great pressure at the set pieces to disrupt the home possession. Twice pushover tries were close to execution when finally 16 minutes into the half the referee spotted one infringement too many and awarded a penalty try converted by Robinson.
Ashley, who seems to relish playing at the Stute, replaced Calladine and having forced a telling turnover broke and joined with Rutter to bring Mansfield close once more. A ball against the head for Kirk nearly sent in Jones and Draycott. Robinson linked with Brown and Rushby and Jones crossed the line but was unable to ground the ball.
Head replaced Williams and was at Taylors’s shoulder for another promising break. The failure to turn their possession to points was starting to jangle the nerves of the Mansfield travelling support but with three minutes remaining another successful scrum, quick ball from a limping Terry Davies through Rutter and the centres found Brown and Robinson linking before Draycott raced in at the corner. All the passes had stuck!
The final moments saw Ilkeston playing for pride and nearly grabbing a consolation try. Stevenson, off the bench for his first team debut, put in a vital tackle in the 22 and the follow up drives saw Rushby and Brown making all important blocks on the Mansfield lines to preserve a fourteen point margin. With the promotion battle so tight points difference may well decide matters. Saving seven points could be very significant come May.
The table now sees three clubs on 26 points. Mansfield are sandwiched between Luton and Kettering with a game in hand on the K’s and Luton scheduled for Eakring Road in mid March. This month sees three weekends at Eakring Road for the Blue and Whites starting with the visit of Syston this weekend. The Leicestershire sides form since December has been impressive as they look to climb clear of the relegation places and thwart Mansfield’s bid for the double this season. Mansfield will look to the treatment room before selecting.
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