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BUXTON  5   MANSFIELD  59 

Mansfield began on the long road to Twickenham with a trip into the Peak District on Saturday for a potential David & Goliath encounter with Buxton. However, the quicker and better drilled Blue and Whites negotiated their way to two pitches, after the original venue was not properly marked out, and past a hard, abrasive and very spirited home outfit. A 24-point haul from skipper Brad Rutter, a hat trick by Paul Draycott and an impressive full debut by hooker James Bennett all contributed to an afternoon of sparkling running rugby and dogged defence in equal measure.

After early scrum problems Mansfield settled nerves with a Stringfellow, Buck, Pritchard foray forward and a Rutter penalty from half way after six minutes. The restart failed to clear ten yards and the resultant scrum saw a penalty, driven up to within 15 yards and the three quarters trying out a series of moves through Arnold, Rushby and Robinson. With a quarter of an hour gone Arnold put in a 20 metre angled run, Rutter and Rushby kept the ball alive and great hands saw Storey collect a high ball and race in for the opening try. Despite the angle Rutter’s conversion was straight through the middle of the posts.

An attempt to force their way back into the game floundered as Buxton saw the ball shoot out the back of their scrum but Buck was the quickest to react, a deft one handed pick up and break in to the clear before linking with Rutter who fed Rushby and the centre’s speed took him through to the corner.

Mansfield failed to secure the restart and a charge down on the 22 set up a line out five yards from the Mansfield line. A well worked move and Buxton had a try in the corner, their only reward for an afternoon of considerable effort and a glimmer of hope at 15 – 5. Within two minutes those hopes were snuffed out. Bennett took a scrum on half way against the head, the ball swept along the three quarters and Draycott sped over for the first of his tries. A regulation conversion and after moving Buxton’s scrum backwards and through 90 degrees Mansfield were racing forward after Man of the Match Ashley picked up at eight and Taylor was a finger tip away from scoring. A carbon copy move travelled 50 yards with the same players before being ruled out for crossing but another Rutter penalty made it 25 - 5 at half time.

The half ended with Mansfield’s defensive qualities being tested as Buxton mounted a concerted assault on the visitor’s line. Hopes that they could build from that in the second period were soon dashed as immediately Buck, Arnold and Ashley forced their way into the home 22. Another raid by the lively Williams gave Rutter the simplest of penalties under the posts and signalled a period of champagne rugby. Another scrum taken against the head, Ashley taking play to half way and then a dozen pairs of Mansfield hands switching play at speed, Pritchard and Bennett in the line and finally Robinson racing to the corner.

With the supporters still eulogising the quality Mansfield showed it was no one off but the style they have promised to show this year. From even deeper in their half Stringfellow led the charge; Head kept the ball alive, Buchanan’s strength created a gap and the three quarters were away with Draycott the finisher.

Changes saw Davies and Newton enter the game, proof positive of the competition for places in the squad, and having settle in were in support of a 50 yard Ashley run that looked certain to produce a try. A dropped pass spoilt that move but the subsequent Buxton scrum was again disrupted, Davies fed Rutter and his dummy and acceleration secured try number six and an easy conversion.

Two more were to follow. Again Mansfield carried play from deep with quick, accurate passing and the ball ended wide on the right were second row Stringfellow crowned his afternoon plunging over with two tacklers hanging on to him before giving way to Newbold. Yet another impressive Rutter conversion from the touchline sailed over.

Mayfield replaced, Bennett who left to a standing ovation from the Mansfield players and supporters, and he quickly linked with the effervescent Williams and Pritchard was hauled down feet from the line. Williams looked certain to set up another score with a diagonal run that ended with a tweaked hamstring but it was left to Draycott to bring the scoring to an end with a sixty-yard dash under the posts for his treble. Buxton kept pressurising to the last whistle but 59 –5 was a fair reflection of the afternoon.

There are nine steps before a side can lift the Powergen Intermediate Cup and a series of potential banana skins along the way. Saturday Mansfield return to League action with a trip to Quineborough, never a happy hunting ground for the Blue and Whites, to take on Syston. The Leicester side slipped up at home to Kettering last weekend, 27-20, so Mansfield travel hoping to make it a hat trick of away wins at the start of their season.

 

 

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