Powergen Intermediate Cup
MATLOCK 10 MANSFIELD 26
The record books will show a comfortable looking sixteen point away win for Mansfield and progress to Round Three. What it won’t show is the tremendous battle that took place with the home side dominating in terms of territorial advantage and possession. However, they were unable to turn that into sufficient points, despite being in front twice, and Mansfield showed flashes of their class to reward their dogged defence with four tries and victory.
Always going to be a tight contest Mansfield gifted their hosts a dream start. The kick off was allowed to drop between four Mansfield players, nobody laid claim and Matlock recovered the ball and stretched play wide to the right. Cover defence cut down the direct route to the line but a drop goal and Mansfield were 3 - 0 behind in the second minute.
Clearly stung Mansfield responded immediately with Jones, Kirk driving forward and Man of the Match Brown putting in the first of many telling kicks. A scrum from a knock on and Roberts on the pick up fed Draycott before a maul ten yards out saw Buck wriggle through under the posts. Robert’s conversion meant ten points in half as many minutes played.
Robinson cleared the restart well up field and Buchanan took the line ball to send Mansfield forward. Matlock quickly to the breakdown got the benefit of scrambled ball and play moved deep into the Blue and Whites 22. An attempt to run the ball out of defence went disastrously wrong and after a series of switches in direction the Derbyshire outfit forced themselves over the line. A long pause while the bodies peeled off the ground ensued, a try was confirmed and well-struck conversion meant a 10 – 7 home lead.
Mansfield responded through Roberts and Rushby and a high ball was chased down by Robinson but it was the defensive strength that took play off the line and out of the 22 as a series of big hits had the home side back pedalling. Jones strength ripped the ball, Newton and Storey raced down the left and Rushby was just forced into touch.
The forward battle was turning Mansfield’s way and struggling to keep possession from a scrum close in the home side found themselves with a rolling maul to contend with. Newton chaperoned by Newbold, Pritchard and Kirk claimed a try and put the visitors noses in front. That lead lasted to the break as Draycott cleared his lines, Brown moved play from 22 to 22 with long touch finding kicks and Buck and Rushby linked well with their forwards.
The second period began with Matlock laying siege to the Mansfield 22. Newton and Head both had to make timely interventions before Roberts was adjudged to have been over vigorous with his feet as Mansfield drove forward at pace. His ten-minute sin binning should have opened the door for a home victory but instead Mansfield redoubled their resolve and their seven-man pack actually took ball against the head. Robinson moved play cross field and a Rushby, Newbold, Pritchard move looked to have created a score before a fumbled pass saved Matlock. Calladine entered the fray and was straight away driving and supporting at the breakdown. Pritchard caught and drove, Robinson twice linked with Draycott after a Brown inspired miss-move. Eventually the pressure told and after Kirk’s run Brown saw and breached the narrowest of gaps twenty yards out. He couldn’t make the line but Jones quickly up in support scorched under the posts. Robinson converted and before Mansfield were back to full strength they had opened a 19 – 10 lead.
The pressure from the home team continued and Newbold showed great speed to run down the opposition centre, Taylor increasingly joined with Roberts to move play back into Matlock’s half and fitness told as Mansfield’s backs threatened to stretch the lead.
The game was finally sealed with a freak try by the impressive young combination of Jones and Storey who failed to convince anyone that it was a product of the training ground. An attempted clearance to touch by Matlock drifted into no-mans land and Jones was fastest in the chase, his hack ahead was no grubber and ballooned between defenders. Storey following up perfectly judged the trajectory and caught the ball before streaking in between the posts. Roberts’s simple conversion made the game safe, allowed the introduction of Grant and Bennett and put a gloss on Mansfield’s afternoon.
This weekend Market Bosworth, who have made an impressive start to their first season in Midlands 2 East with just one defeat in league or cup-ties visit Eakring Road. They sit level on points with Mansfield but two places below on point’s difference and bring an impressive set of backs that have been involved in a series of high scoring games. A high scoring contest is in the offing given the sides form this season.
CLICK FOR ALL THE OTHER MIDLANDS 2 EAST RESULTS,
COURTESY OF RUGBY ROUND-UP
