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So near and yet so far

Powergen Midlands One

BROMSGROVE  23   MANSFIELD  20

The most telling and poignant message from Bromsgrove was the resounding applause that greeted the Mansfield side as they left the pitch. Their own supporters and many of the home crowd acknowledging 70 minutes of control and attack that just failed to bring home the vital league points.

A disastrous first ten minutes saw Mansfield fail to organise themselves and gift 17 points to the opposition before they lifted themselves and nearly bridged the gap. Bromsgrove returned the kick off with along punt to win a line out. Setting up a drive in field they were awarded a penalty for a two minute 3 -0 lead.

Fighting straight back Newbould recovered the restart and Kirk and Pritchard combined to crash over the gain line. A penalty was turned into a 5 metre line out and Mansfield drove themselves onto the try line before indiscipline gifted the home side the chance to clear. McGaffney collected under a high ball and from the resulting home scrum Bromsgrove unleashed an all out three quarter’s manoeuvre.

What followed was a fourteen point moment of play. Fully committed the move floundered on the tackling of Robinson and Jones. The ball spilled behind the whole of the Boars’ team helped on by a Mansfield hack through. Three men clear and with no opposition between them and the try line controlled dribbling or a pick up and race to the posts and the lead was Mansfield’s. Instead a wild reverse scoop pass sailed into the arms of the Bromsgrove wing and the seven points were alongside their name on the score board.

Stunned Mansfield missed tackles on the next attack to find themselves 17-0 adrift. Home murmurings urged a big score from the Boars but Mansfield galvanised behind the work rate of Newton and Lindsay attacking and defending round the base of the scrums and open play with Taylor not only providing line ball but an extra attacking dimension.

Increasingly Arnold’s angled incursions committed defenders and on twenty minutes Robinson’s fierce tackling forced a 22 line out. Pritchard snapped clean ball to Kirk and Mansfield drove 25 metres over the try line without proving to the referees satisfaction they had grounded the ball. Runs from Williams and McGaffney kept Mansfield in attack and Rutter and Davies twice linked to bring Mansfield back in sight of the line.

A penalty under the posts was ignored in the search for points and another catch and drive saw the Blue and Whites once more across the try line but unable to cleanly ground. Jones and Arnold kept the play in the home 22 and after a sin binning for pulling down Mansfield used their line and drive technique to guide Pritchard in for a try. Rutter’s inch perfect touchline conversion should have finished the first half scoring but once again carelessness when receiving the restart gave a penalty and 20-7 lead to the home club.

The second period began with Stringfellow moving play back up field and Newton and Karl Robinson broke tackles allowing Davies to break forward. Four minutes of constant pressure and Rutter was kicking Mansfield back to 20-10. With the restart not clearing ten metres Mansfield had the opportunity to maintain the pressure. The scrum was lost, however, and after scrambling defence Williams looked to be away in the clear only to hear a whistle for offside and a simple penalty put the lead back to thirteen points.

A forty metre touchline run from Robinson rocked Bromsgrove back on their heels and Holmes, on for Newton, wasted no time in going forward to the 22. Quick service down the backs and Robinson committed two men. Williams faced with three defenders outpaced the first, a deft, flighted chip saw him glide between the remaining pair and his pace took him to the ball first. Rutter from wide on the right brought the game back to within six points.

With ten minutes remaining pressure brought Rutter another penalty and the dying stages of game in the balance. Despite a series of penalties, driving mauls and two line outs from 5 metres that match winning score would not come and Bromsgrove ended the game kicking themselves back into Mansfield territory.

Mansfield remain third bottom in the table but worryingly the gap to mid table safety extended to six points after Saturday’s results. Without a game this week training will focus on December and three vital games. After a trip to bottom of the table Whitchurch, Eakring Road will see the visit of Dunstablians and the return fixture with Bromsgrove. Every Blue and White supporter will be hoping for an early Christmas and three wins before Santa sets off on his rounds.    

Mansfield Under 15's entertained West Bridgford in the second round of the NLD Cup and ran out comfortable winners 45 -7. Mansfield played the whole of the first period in the Bridgford half of the field scoring two unanswered tries. The first through Barney Bromley who chased down a cross field kick before taking the ball over to score.  The second, from a quick penalty taken by Niall Goldie passing to Jordan Bailey who weaved through two tackles before placing the ball between the posts. Tom Clark converting to take the score to 12 - 0.

The second period started as the first with Joe Kimberley receiving quick ball from a scrum and going over in the corner to take the score to 17 - 0.  Bridgford then enjoyed a period of possession venturing into the Mansfield 22 for the first time and from a quick penalty the scrum half caught Mansfield knapping as he went over to score close to the posts.  The try was converted.  From then on Mansfield totally dominated hitting Bridgford hard scoring a further four converted tries with strong forward play and slick handling in the backs. Jim Smith, Shaun Symcox, Niall Goldie and Barney Bromley, with his second, scoring with Clark converting all four to take the score to 45 - 7.

Mansfield's Under 14's travelled to the North Lincolnshire coast to play the first round of the NLD Cup against Grimsby.  Mansfield dominated possession and territory scoring 44 unanswered points in the first period with tries from Ross Elms (2) Daniel Dougdale (2) Ellis Keegan, Jonathan Cordin, Josh Metcalf and Daniel Boyles.  Ross Elms converting the first two and thereafter Mansfield's Coach declined to take the kicks.  Soon after the re-start Mansfield secured their passage to the second round with two further tries from Ryan Hough and David Swann taking the score to 54 - 0. The balance of the match was then played as a training fixture with a further four tries being scored by Jonathan Cordin, Callum Wood, Josh Metcalf and Daniel Boyles

Mansfield u13s were left to concentrate on the Plate competition after a 22-7 defeat against Chesterfield. The score line flattered the visitors in a game that could have gone either way with Mansfield putting in their best performance so far.  Although Mansfield’s tackling was much better Chesterfields tries came from poor attempts out wide as there was no way through the centres. Mansfield’s only try came from another massive drive by Luke Cullington, there were several claimants but the referee accredited it to flanker Jeavon Blake. Man of match was again Oliver Stokes, other contenders with much improved performances were Leigh Sanders, P Walker, Declan Kavanagh and Connal Baxter.

Mansfield under 12’s found themselves in a three way fixture against strong opposition from Nottingham and West Bridgeford, and despite losing both matches showed that continuing development will bring with it the results they deserve. The forwards dominated once again, producing plenty of ball for the backs who despite coming close, could not quite finish off. An outstanding performance saw skipper for the day Robert Darcy win man of the match.

 

 

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