Mansfield overcome stubborn Syston
Powergen Midlands 2 East
MANSFIELD 32 SYSTON 15
Mansfield rewrote the record books at the weekend achieving their first clean sweep against Syston. The Seconds and Fourths recorded away wins 28-14 and 24-12 respectively and the Thirds triumphed 39-14 at Eakring Road where Mansfield Firsts struggling to reproduce their flowing style of recent weeks had to work hard to secure the points against a determined, battling Syston outfit.
With fellow promotion contenders South Leicester slipping up for the second time in a fortnight Mansfield strengthened their position at the top thanks to stubborn defence and clinical finishing of the few opportunities on offer.
A frenetic end to end opening saw Mansfield knock on in the opposition 22, Kirk steal a scrum against the head but Jones and Rushby twice needing to put in last ditch tackles. Those took their toll on Rushby who departed on seven minutes with a broken hand. His replacement Draycott saw Syston take the lead with a penalty before fielding a high ball and setting up a line out on halfway. Pritchard caught well and Mansfield rolled away into midfield before Rutter spun the ball to Wilson on the halfway line. Three broken tackles, two switches of direction through half gaps and fifty metres later he was stretching out and grounding the ball for a scintillating try.
The probing of Wayne Robinson from deep and breaks from Holmes and Newbould posed danger but Mansfield failed to sustain the pressure and Syston always looked threatening on the break. Jones created a chance for Storey but when the ball was lost Wilson had to chase back to his five metre line for a vital tackle. Thankfully Pritchard, Davies and Rutter cleared their lines before three hectic minutes.
Still on the defensive Mansfield’s cover defence could not hold out as the Syston hooker plunged for the line. The touch judge, perfectly placed, was able to confirm the try despite the corner flag being dislodged but joy was short lived. Roberts and Stringfellow turned ball over and despite struggling to keep momentum Rutter broke clear, Kirk and Holmes in support ripped open the defence and Storey was away for the first of a brace of tries which gained him the JASS Interiors Man of the Match award.
The winger twice more produced searing 40 metre runs, Draycott and Robinson linked on the left but it was Jones who, with half time approaching, delivered the killer blow. Having been thwarted with Newbould on one break then adjudged the recipient of a forward pass, he went through the middle and had Pritchard in support with the strength to make the line. Unlike his earlier problem when the ball blew off the tee on his run up Rutter was able to add the conversion and Mansfield turned round 17-8 in front.
The second period opened with Syston camped for five minutes of around Mansfield’s five metre line. A score looked inevitable, but it came at the other end. Attackers froze as good ball was laid back; Jones reacted fastest to make ten metres and fed Rutter. He dummied the predictable kick and was up to half way, long passes found Jones and Wilson who gave Storey the room he needed and Rutter completed the agony for the visitors with the conversion.
Failing to make ten metres with the restart Syston were back peddling as Roberts, Davies and Storey again went close. Draycott just failed to control an interception but with Davies increasingly breaching the first line of defence Lindsay, Rutter, Karl Robinson and Storey all threatened to extend the lead. On three quarter time it was. Good line out possession and Lindsay and Roberts had Mansfield charging forward. Bullet like passes found Wayne Robinson in his stride and he took the home side three scores in front. Mansfield still had pressure to absorb and thanks to Calladine ripping ball clear after his introduction they conceded just one more try. Grant entered the fray and pressure at the scrum and a Lindsay tap penalty move gave Rutter the chance to put the game beyond doubt with a penalty five minutes from time.
Now the destination of the league is very much in Mansfield’s own hands. This win took them to a 303 points difference and with the next best 190 it is worth a point on its own. Four points clear of all comers but they still have matches against the four closest contenders, by far the toughest run in. However, next Saturday attention switches to the Three Counties Cup and a much delayed trip to Matlock. Lincoln await the winners in a cup Mansfield are determined to reclaim and use as a route to next season’s Senior Cup.
Mansfield U15 squad of 22 all got an opportunity to play and worked hard to secure a 41-0 away win at windswept Mellish. A good disciplined team performance produced a brace of tries for scrum half Stuart Wilson, and flanker captain Tom Calladine, with one try each for hooker Samuel Johnson, No.8 Danny Spencer and winger James Ashmore and 3 conversions for fly half Jonathan Williams. Mansfield 'Man of the Match' was prop Niall Goldie.
Mansfield U13's maintained their unbeaten run into the second half of the season. An early try set the pattern and they ran out 50-0 victors over Long Eaton.
More fine displays from the U11s, this time against Southwell and Newark. A hard fought encounter with Newark which despite several scoring opportunities for both sides, looked to be ending scoreless until a Mansfield attack saw the ball recycled to James Ford who crashed over the line for his first try of the season, and a 5 - 0 victory.A rested Southwell side who were out to avenge a defeat at Eakring Road powered in to a 14 - 0 half time lead. In the second half Mansfield went all out in attack and tries from Peter Prentice, Jevon Blake, and Tom Lowery, all converted won the game for Mansfield by 21 - 14. All players involved once again showed great heart and were worthy of the victories. This Sunday the lads travel in the First teams' footsteps to Matlock by coach, meet at the clubhouse 9:15am, training Thursday 6:00pm
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