|
Celebrations all round at Eakring Road
Powergen Midlands 2 East
MANSFIELD 34 BANBURY BULLS 7
With party mood in the clubhouse Mansfield were determined that Banbury would not be the party poopers and put on a performance mixing flair and efficiency to secure a victory that rounded off the first half of the season. Half way sees them top of the table, the top scorers and, thanks to the meanest defence, with far and away the best points difference. “Its only December” was Coach John Tasker’s reaction “We’re not talking about promotion until April.”
The celebrations marked Club Treasurer Mike Copestake’s birthday and sponsorship of the game, linked with Wardencheck to provide two Men of the Match. In truth it was a game where everyone pulling on a Mansfield shirt was a contender. Two tries from Wilson and some imaginative running landed him the honour, whilst the return of Pritchard saw him nominated as the forwards choice.
Playing uphill and into the wind Mansfield immediately made their intentions clear running the kick off back out of the 22 before a forward pass halted them. The next play saw the line being relieved by swift hands down the three quarters for Storey and Wayne Robinson to put the Bulls on the back foot. Pritchard and Davies picked up the tempo with important drives and Karl Robinson was thwarted on the try line.
Pressure was bound to tell and after Rushby and Kirk moved play in front of the posts Rutter stroked over a drop goal with young spectators in a bumper crowd shouting ‘go Jonny go’. It wasn’t Sydney and might have been mistaken identity but the same outcome for a 3-0 lead. That lead was short lived as Mansfield failed to capitalise on a poor restart then froze in defence as a clever chip over the top found Banbury’s open side quickest to react. A touchline conversion and Bulls led for the only time in the afternoon.
Pritchard made important metres and had Stringfellow and Newbould in support, Lindsay stole Banbury line ball and following a testing kick from Wilson Mansfield won a scrum. Roberts and Lindsay peeled away and Davies twice linked Kirk and Storey into the move to set up a Newton drive where Karl Robinson again was held just short.
After so much pressure Mansfield has to show their mean machine defence with Pritchard tackling into touch, Wayne Robinson with a tackle that reverberated round the ground and sent his opponent back ten metres before Pritchard and Kirk collected loose ball and started a 40 metre passage downfield. As the Bulls scrambled Mansfield’s backs chased down and Wilson seized the initiative with a try between the posts. Rutter converted but found the angle and wind too much just five minutes later when a text book 5 metre line out was driven over with Pritchard in possession.
A narrow interval lead was soon increased as Rutter drilled the ball long and wide to allow Mansfield to develop down the right and Storey to ensure he remains top of the try count for the league. A good conversion and Mansfield had a fifteen point gap to build on. Davies and Rutter released the backs for Wilson and Storey to threaten, Holmes, replacing Lindsay showed a turn of pace having tidied scrappy line ball and a free kick ensued.
A quick tap, Wilson forced a gap exploited by Rutter and Wayne Robinson before Rushby powered over. The conversion came back off the post, the kick off sent Mansfield on another three quarter move from 22 to 22. Arnold on for Rushby twice threatened a breakthrough and indeed was unfortunate to have been adjudged to have been held up across the line.
Soar entered the fray immediately having his opposite prop in all kind of trouble at the set piece and twice halting the Bulls attempts to lift the siege with his tackles. Mansfield failed to capitalise on a Jones break before the centre and Wayne Robinson contrived to halt a four man break with a superb series of tackles.
Both sides saw men sin binned as the dying moments became fractious but strong refereeing ensured frustrations cooled and still time for another Mansfield handling move before the final whistle. The first half of the season over, some big return fixtures to come in the promotion cauldron but this weekend thoughts turn to Three Counties Cup action and a trip to the Dales where Matlock seek a notable scalp.
Mansfield’s Second string drew 23 - 23 at home against a spirited Derby II team, a last minute try levelling the scores for Mansfield with the conversion to win the game, however Troman’s attempt dropped short. This was the friendly version of next week’s Security Plus League fixture.
Mansfield U15s travelled to Melbourne (Derbyshire) to grind out a 20-14 win with a dominant forward display. Mansfield tries in the corners for Props Nick Bansal and Niall Goldie, Flanker Captain Tom Calladine and Lock 'Man of the Match' Michael Lowery overturned an early deficit.
Next Game Ilkeston A 14/12/03 depart 9-15am all players report
The clubs U 13’s maintained their remarkable unbeaten record this season, with a fine display of team work, beating Paviors 21-5 in a titanic battle. Mansfield points came from Ross Elms who scored 3 tries, all successfully converted, with Man of the Match going to Daniel Dougdale for his all round performance.
Once again Mansfield Under 11’s can take great credit from a 21 -21 draw against Newark, what was the best opposition they have faced. The game was split into three periods, which saw Mansfield face fresh legs each time, such was the numbers of the Newark side. They were however undaunted by this and gave what was their best all round performance with tries coming from Declan Kavanagh, Tom Lowery, and Arran Martin in only his second game. A great all round team performance, but the man of the match this week was Josh Kimberley
| 
