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Powergen Midlands 2 East

 

MANSFIELD  47   NORTHAMPTON OLD SCOUTS  8

Mansfield returned to league action with an emphatic win at Eakring Road, yet only hit top form for half a game where the visitors showed attacking adventure and caused problems throughout. Welcoming back skipper Brad Rutter after a 3-month lay off the backs capitalised on the forward platform with a hat trick for Storey, two tries for Arnold plus scores from Jones and Rutter himself. Continuing with the kicking duties Robinson added a dozen points to round off the afternoon and keep the Blue and Whites in the thick of the promotion battle.

The early signs were not promising as, for the second week running, Mansfield simply failed to get into their stride for the first fifteen minutes. From the kick off an attempt to maul their way up field was penalised and the Scouts exerted great pressure from 5 metre lineouts and scrums close in. Important try line tackles from Head and Williams kept the visitors out, Buchanan’s strength forced a turn over and Roberts, Mansfield’s Man of the Match, moved attacking forays back on their heels.

On twelve minutes the first score went to Scouts and that seemed to spur Mansfield into action. Forcing a line out Mansfield drove through Taylor and Kirk and Robinson struck a penalty to level affairs. A long stoppage for an arm injury disrupted the Northampton side and allowed Mansfield to gather their thoughts and turn the game on its head.

Arnold created turn over ball in midfield well inside the Mansfield half and having wrestled himself clear linked with Davies and Rutter whose interchange of passes at full tilt split the Scouts wide open before feeding Storey whose speed ensured an end to his try drought of recent weeks. Robinson’s touchline conversion was inch perfect and with their first real piece of rugby of the day Mansfield eased 10-3 in front.

That lead was instantly increased. Stringfellow dealt with the restart and twice birthday boy Williams linked in a move with Davies then spinning the ball wide left. Draycott’s run for the line ended in touch a dozen metres short but Mansfield stole the throw and a rampaging Roberts and Kirk in support opened the way for Jones to weave through the last line of defence. If that had the Mansfield crowd purring with delight the following move had them roaring in ecstasy.

This time Roberts secured the restart and to describe the handling move that swept back over seventy yards would simply mean listing every pair of Mansfield hands on the pitch, the unstoppable passage ending with Storey’s dive in the corner.

No rest for the visitors with Rutter angling a cross-field kick to the 22 before the forwards again set up a maul. Stringfellow broke away, an interchange with Rutter and then the slickest of pop up passes to allow the skipper a try on his return. Mansfield paused for breath; twelve minutes had seen the game move from three apiece to 25-3. The Scouts bounced back and despite seeing two penalties rebound from the same upright in a torrid five-minute spell were alert enough to swing a quick tap penalty to the right for a consolation touchdown.

The second half action began with the visitors pack suffering some discomfort on their own ball and Davies harrying their fly half into a hasty clearance. Mansfield controlled the resultant scrum and Rutter held the pass up long enough to hit Arnold’s diagonal run to the posts, Robinson’s crisp conversion sent the home side 32-8 in front.

It would have been easy for the floodgates to open. However great Northampton determination, a tendency for openings to be wasted with final passes going forward or to ground and the re-emergence of indiscipline meant twenty five scoreless minutes – ten with Mansfield reduced to fourteen players. Coach John Tasker rang the changes with Newbold maintaining front row pressure and a lively presence in the loose play, the evergreen Calladine sprucing up the back row with Buchanan continuing line out dominance from second row.

With ten minutes remaining Robinson accepted a straightforward penalty in front of the posts and within two minutes was adding a conversion after Mansfield carried a drive from within their half and Arnold again was on hand to finish. Brown entered the fray and with Mansfield back to fifteen men he linked with Taylor to put the side in reach of the line. The perfect set up and Storey’s speed out wide ensured the young wings hat trick and the conversion attempt set the unusual hat trick of rebounds from the posts.

Mansfield finished with more flowing rugby but couldn’t control the final move of the day and post a half-century. The side will have been satisfied with an emphatic win but now face a vital January and games against fellow promotion rivals. The first sees Ampthill, 64-7 victors over the Old Scouts in their last game and the last team to beat Mansfield in the league back on November 2nd. at Eakring Road next weekend for a 2.15 kick off. January last year saw Mansfield’s promotion hopes evaporate; this side have matters in their own hands to ensure history does not repeat itself. 

 

 

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