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Mansfield draw a blank to end promotion drive

Powergen Midlands 2 East

South Leicester  25   Mansfield  0

Mansfield failed to score for the first time this season, a surprising outcome in a game where they dominated territorially and possession for such long periods. To make matters worse they committed a string of unforced errors, seized on by their hosts, and watched their promotion hopes evaporate.

The side, which showed six changes from the previous week, began with Pike securing early line out ball and their pack surprising both sets of supporters by sending the home unit back pedalling. Despite that advantage Mansfield went behind in the fourth minute. South found their drives held but spun the ball along the line and squeezed in at the corner.

The instant response came with Buchanan catching and supported in the drive by Head and Calladine made progress until an untidy knock on. Williams came into the action and Jones made a half break before Roberts took play into the home 22. Mansfield conceded a penalty to allow play to be switched to the other end and promptly contrived to repeat the disaster of seven days earlier. Instead of a simple clearing kick they began to run the ball out of their 22 and fell 12-0 behind with a converted interception try.   

Still Mansfield dominated the game. Buchanan and Roberts set up good positions and Buck made progress across the gain line before Rutter brought Draycott and Jones into attack. Arnold and Robinson combined with an interchange of passes down the right wing to within 5 metres. Pike stole South Leicester’s line ball but despite forcing their way onto the line Mansfield couldn’t cleanly ground the ball. Another exciting move with Roberts, Newbold and Davies linking and Rutter kicking Mansfield back to within 5 metres. Frustratingly having built a position another knock on squandered the chance to reduce the arrears.

In a rare spell of attack South Leicester twice in rapid succession set up drives from 5metre line outs but first the combined defence held out then Davies was quickest to react to loose ball to steal and clear the danger. The interval deficit of twelve points did not look insurmountable and as the sides turned round and with Mansfield playing down the slope they still looked the more likely winners.

That was not be fulfilled, however, and the second period began with important tackles from Buchanan and Buck before probing kicks clear from Rutter. Bennett replaced Calladine and was quick to show his speed to close down attackers in midfield. As frustration grew Mansfield lost shape and some discipline allowing a penalty on fifty-two minutes to make the lead more than two scores. 

Draycott wove between defenders to run the ball back from deep but damaged an ankle in the tackle and limped out of the game. His replacement Storey linked with Buck but once again the Leicester defence held out.  

A final switch to try and rescue the affair saw Coach John Tasker give Paul Wright his introduction to the first team. His determined ball carrying and ability to offload it at the point of the tackle disturbed the home defence and indicated an interesting addition to Mansfield’s armoury. Going into the final quarter the game and the prospect of going up were finally dashed. From an attacking position Mansfield again spilled ball, South swiftly countered and had the speed to go round the Mansfield defence before converting off the inside of a post.

With the game drifting to a conclusion Roberts received a yellow card for persistent fringing, and the subsequent penalty rounded off the scoring. Still the fourteen men kept going forward but couldn’t break their duck despite strong runs from Buchanan, Robinson and a jinking run by Buck. Two weekends in Leicestershire had seen a doubling in the defeats for the season and with them even the mathematical chance of promotion had gone.

The squad have a free weekend now before winding up their league season at home to Banbury. Mansfield need to win that game to finish the campaign in third place, then thoughts turn to defence of their county cup title with a semi final trip to Paviors. To achieve those two goals the side will need to regain the sharpness missing in recent weeks, cut out the unforced errors and capitalise on their strengths.

 

 

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