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Powergen Midlands 2 East
MANSFIELD 20 LUTON 20
Scientists have pondered what would happen when the irresistible force meets the immovable object, the rugby payers of Mansfield and Luton provided the answer on Saturday – equality. No title or promotion issues settled, indeed a result that ensures they remain in the balance to the end of the season. Few could have expected the feast of rugby served up by both sides and the balanced touch of referee Trevor Sharpe who controlled a potentially explosive encounter whilst allowing the game to flow.
The start could not have been worse for Mansfield and confirmed the danger the Luton three quarters possessed. Arnold was quick to charge down a kick, Pike leapt high to secure a line ball but when Mansfield’s clearing kick failed to find touch the ball was swept along the line at speed. Fortune favoured the visitors as a grubber for the corner ricocheted off two sets of Mansfield legs back to Luton winger Campbell for a touch down. Lintern converted from the sideline and Luton seven points up in two minutes.
Clearly stung Mansfield took the game to the opposition with Rutter prompting drives from Roberts, Williams and Pritchard. Ashley set out his stall for the afternoon stealing ball and then moving play 10 metres forward before Mansfield forced a line out ten metres from the line. Pike caught and fed Roberts who was round the front of the line and storming in at the corner. Rutter’s conversion narrowly missed.
More adventure from Luton called on Storey’s and Taylor’s tackling prowess. The high scoring Luton machine was finding no way through the centre combination of Jones and Rushby and only added to their score through a Lintern drop goal on sixteen minutes.
From the restart Robinson proved secure under the highball and breaks from Newbold, Ashley and Williams put Mansfield within striking distance. Kirk directed affairs behind a driving maul taking ball to the line before controlling it back for scrum half Davies to secure an unconverted try and level at 10-10.
Tackling duties, particularly on super star Bajak, were much to the forefront of Arnold’s game before Storey went flying down the line to within 15 yards. Roberts nearly broke through either side of half time as Mansfield put on the pressure but were hit on the break by Luton and Lintern edged the Hatters in front 13-10.
Pritchard led the charge from the kick off, Ashley twice blocked out Luton reposts and Roberts was held over the line, adjudged not to have grounded quickly enough. Mansfield did have the lesser advantage of a penalty and Robinson levelled the scores. Luton threatened but uncharacteristic penalty misses kept matters in the balance before the apparent turning point. Mansfield fumbled and had to scramble clear behind their own winning scrum in the 22. Gifted the line out 15 metres out Luton controlled, broke and angled through the Mansfield defence for a try and simple conversion.
That should have been the coup de grace but with stoppage time looming Mansfield found more reserves of strength and spirit pegging Luton back into their 22 and forcing a line out. Pritchard soared to catch and the Mansfield pack drove on as a unit. As Luton tacklers were brushed aside Pritchard appeared at the back and forced his way home for a try that clinched his award as Alex McKie’s Man of the Match. Still the drama was not over. Five metres in from touch Rutter lined up the conversion and in an eerie silence, broken only by a baby’s crying, struck it long, hard, true and through the middle of the posts accompanied by a mighty roar.
Still time allowed another Mansfield attack, resolute defence by Luton and a final whistle to confirm a draw in a game where defeat for either team would have been cruel justice. Never behind in the game Luton still left the field the more relieved and in a season of attacking prowess outscored three tries to two by a Mansfield unit who raised their game.
“The best game of rugby I have been involved with as a player or a coach,” was John Tasker’s summary, “as the season draws to a close I’m grateful to all the players in the squad, not just those involved on Saturday, for the 100% effort they have put in. Thanks to all of them we go into the final three matches with our destiny in our own hands.” Now come the dual hurdles of Market Bosworth and South Leicester, both away, before Mansfield round off the season at home to Banbury. Saturday’s result means that promotion issues may still be in the balance on that final weekend when Luton must travel to Kettering.
Mansfield Colts won the first of three vital end of season games 15-10. A close fought encounter at Melton Mowbray saw the home side take advantage of a Mansfield indiscretion and then poor midfield tackling to open up a half time lead of 10-0. An inspirational half time talk from the coach saw Mansfield play the second half better and with more constructive mauling/rucking giving Ash Wills at stand off more time. A beautifully placed kick over the Melton defence deftly recovered by Steve Bonsar with good support from Danny Bonsar led to Mansfields first try 20 minutes into the second half. Converted by Steve Bonsar. The second Mansfield try came from a trademark break by Rob Broadhurst and good support play by Danny Bonsar. The conversion attempt was missed but continued pressure by the Mansfield forwards led to a penalty converted by Steve Bonsar.
Mansfield under 15’s made a successful trip to Amber Valley on Sunday, bringing back a 17-0 win. In a game where both teams defended superbly Ben Morrison scored and converted a try set up by the backs before a great forwards move allowed Mark Gregory to score under the posts. After the break Tom Fores broke wide from a rolling maul to secure the stretch the sides unbeaten run to seven weeks. Their six wins and one draw record will come under pressure next Sunday at Rotherham but delighted coaches Lizzie and Dave have confidence in their rapidly improving squad
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