Determined Mansfield resist Scout troop
Powergen Midlands 2 East
Mansfield 32 Northampton Old Scouts 17
A somewhat depleted Mansfield showed all their grit and determination on Saturday to secure vital points and maintain second place in the table against a rejuvenated Northampton side who dominated for much of the afternoon. Lacking their customary command at the set scrums Mansfield leant heavily on the ability of Taylor and Pike to secure line ball from Bennett’s delivery and also to cash in on their opponents throw.
The speed round the park of Holmes, named as the Vice Presidents Man of the Match, disrupted the Scouts rhythm allowing drives from Roberts and Stringfellow to secure territory early on and after an eleventh minute penalty bobbled off the post and bar Mansfield were held as Roberts and Taylor worked a back row move. The five metre scrum was lost against the head but the visitors froze, Buck was the one man alert enough to seize both situation and ball and dived across the line to set up an easy conversion for Rutter.
Looking to open play out from the restart Storey covered 60 metres with an interchange of passes with Wayne Robinson, a Pike catch set up a drive and it took three defenders to keep Rushby at bay. Such was the ebb and flow, however, that Mansfield were grateful to Arnold for a mark under a towering kick and Jones’s incisive running from deep to carry play back to the opposition half.
Old Scouts thought they had worked a try but the Mansfield cover ensured the visiting scrum half took the corner flag with him ruling out the score and signalling the turning point of the game. From the 22 drop out Stringfellow caught and supported by Karl Robinson and Roberts Mansfield began a sweep down field through the hands of Arnold, Jones, Rushby and Rutter before the final pass found evergreen prop Newbould racing in support for a try.
In seconds the ball had gone from one corner diagonally to the other and instead of the potential equalising score Scouts found themselves twelve points in arrears.
With two minutes of the half remaining Mansfield were pegged back to 12-5 but they went into the break with Buck and Roberts both forced into touch on the attack. However, within five minutes of the second period hesitation behind their own line ball saw Mansfield concede try number two and worryingly Stringfellow limp out to join the injury list.
Replacement Ashley wasted no time bringing his power to bear at a maul, and twice swap passes with Holmes before opening out to the right. Wayne Robinson met the ball in full stride and a decoy run from Arnold gave him just the space he needed for a try wide out. Storey then took his chance to get behind the visiting defence and scrum indiscretions allowed Rutter to open up a 20-10 advantage.
Far from securing safe passage through to the final whistle Mansfield were still having to cover and tackle, notably with Roberts and Rushby closing up in midfield and Robinson and Arnold blocking the wings. With little clean possession a spark was required and Rutter supplied it. He dummied then turned blindside on his own ten metre line, raced twenty more metres and fed Storey who sped to the corner to put himself out in front of the league’s try scorers.
Going into the final quarter Scouts forced a converted try and as they strove to set up a grandstand finale the anxious Mansfield support were grateful to the tactical acumen of Buck and Rutter’s angled chips and kicks to peg the visitors back. Terrier like chasing by the Mansfield fifteen stifled the counter attacks and opportunities developed in the Scouts 22. Five minutes from time and Taylor soared to catch, the Mansfield pack drilled their way across the line and Roberts touched down. Rutter’s conversion stretched the final tally to 31-17 but refusing to buckle Scouts again pressurised and the fractious final moments showed how passionately the contest had been played out.
“With seven of the first team squad out this week we have won well thanks to the determination and guts of everyone who came in. We did struggle and it would have been easy for heads to drop but we battled through” was Coach John Tasker’s verdict. Captain Brad Rutter adding “It wasn’t our normal standard but at the end of the day we have won by 15 points and that says everything about our spirit.”
This weekend will be a stern examination of Mansfield’s promotion credentials when they visit fourth placed Loughborough Students. They have a 100% record in all competitions and are level with the Blue and Whites with a game in hand. Both sides are averaging 30 points a game in the league so a high scoring contest is on the cards.
Mansfield Under 13s began their season with a tough trip to Scunthorpe but got off to a great start with a 31-10 win. A very good squad performance organised and in control for the majority of the game, was produced on the day with Daniel Dugdale being named as man of the match. Try scorers were Jonathan Cordin, Ross Elms, Daniel Dugdale, Adam Shaw and John Ross with conversions by Adam Shaw, Ross Elms and John Ross. Next Sunday they entertain Buxton – meet at 9.30.
The Under 15s meet at 9.20 before travelling to West Bridgford |
