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Mansfield’s chances blown away Powergen Midlands One LUCTONIANS  29   MANSFIELD  23  Mansfield came away from the long trip to Herefordshire on Saturday night rueing the loss of a victory that they richly deserved. The loss of two more vital league points had been well and truly blown away. Firstly by their inability to command when in front and then by the whistles blown at three pivotal stages of the game. In surprisingly good conditions there was an open and exciting game from the off when Luctonians threatened to swamp Mansfield with fast free flowing running play from all angles. After seven minute without the ball in their hands Mansfield found themselves 7 -0 down and warning bells were ringing. However, far from wilting the Blue and Whites turned to forward power to take the game to the opposition. Good line ball from Pike and Kirk was directing the pack in a trundle up field and the first of many handling offences at the ruck took Mansfield to the 22. Taylor was the choice of jumper this time, Rushby provided the angle to link with Stringfellow, twice involved, Pike provided the yards and after a free kick Rutter was given a penalty which reduced the deficit. Back on the attack the Mansfield defence owed much to the cover of Holmes and both centres to stifle direct running through the centre and Storey, making his first appearance of the season, prevented a try on the left. The pressure continued and from a scrum under the posts speedy handling again conjured a try in the right corner. No touchline conversion this time but entering the second quarter the home side looked well on top. Line out control was key as Rutter turned the home side with a series of angled balls to keep play around the home 22 and set up a series of drives to the line. What followed was the whistle that never was. A Luctonians line out was snaffled by Stringfellow who charged to the line – penalty number one. Taylor cleanly caught the five metre line out and Newton was illegally stopped - penalty number two. Newbould and Robinson had the ball up to the line for penalty number three before a repeat of the lineout move to Newton and penalty number four. The whistle blew but not for the expected penalty try and seven vital points. Rutter saw his kick slip by to the left but could quickly make amends as Luctonians knocked on at the 22. A solid scrum and Jones was carving through the heart of the defence for yet another penalty and the skipper pulled Mansfield back to 12 – 6. Once again Luctonians running game tested the Blue and Whites defensive resolve. McGaffney found enough pace for a last ditch tackle, Arnold twice stopped his winger in his tracks and Davies hauled down a threatening back row move. As the half ended it was Mansfield who were exerting the greater pressure and after a back row drive Rutter saw a drop goal attempt just fail. Once again the half began at a blistering pace. The first real chance fell to Mansfield from Pike line ball and Jones finding a gap only for a knock on to end the follow up maul. Luctonians blindside break was thwarted by Newbould and the pressure told with a sin binning for Luctonians. Mansfield swiftly moved play from 22 to 22 and McGaffney struck a sweet drop goal to close the gap to three points. Rushby’s tackle stopped any thoughts of a reply from the home side and Holmes went through the heart of the home side to put Mansfield in good position.   A Mansfield scrum and Rutter floated the ball over and between defenders who had the figure of Arnold bearing down on them and forcing a fumbled knock on. Mansfield secured the ball, edged into the danger zone then Davies was shimmying and darting between defenders for a try. Rutter’s conversion moved the score board to 19 -16 and the visitors were favourites for a vital win. That win was blown away in the next five minutes. Mansfield will look back at two golden chances to kick themselves to safety that were charged down, a line out that presented possession to the opposition and a fumbled knock on that all kept Luctonians on the 22 instead of in defence. However, equally significant blows were to follow on the officials whistle. With the home side threatening the line Arnold was adjudged to have pulled down the maul and immediately sin binned. Despite the leniency of allowing four penalties in rapid succession in the first half the next move and penalty number two against Mansfield was rewarded with a penalty try. Clearly shaken Mansfield struggled to respond. Their discipline slipped and a scrum turned into penalty for words spoken to the referee. Pritchard, replacing Pike continued good work at the line out but it was Davies and Storey who prevented tries as Mansfield continued to try to raise their game. The apparent hammer blow to their hopes came with another penalty, this time for an alleged high tackle not even appealed for by Luctonians. At 29 – 16 nobody could imagine Mansfield coming back let alone having the most controversial of finishes. Determined running, close control in the rolling maul and then Jones had the power to break through two tackles and take the last defender over the line with him. Rutter converted. The gap was one converted try and the crowd and players heard the referee say four more minutes. The kick off went long, the ball went dead and the referees whistle went to his lips for the final blast. Supporters, coaching staff from both sides and the players were stunned to say the least. Mansfield’s chance to rescue something at the last had been blown way. Explanations after the game failed to soothe and the commiserations of more than one of the vociferous, good natured and hospitable Luctonians members that the better team had lost will not alter the points tally. Mansfield did move up one place in the table but will look to cut out the unforced errors when the First Team Squad meet at noon this Saturday for a Tasker Training Camp in place of the game against Newark who are in Cup action. The 2nd XV beat Spalding 2nds 106 - 0 to notch up their first league win of the season. 16 tries in all with amazingly no hat-tricks, and 13 conversions by Wayne Robinson. Despite the one way traffic, the Mansfield side showed flair and discipline to record one of their highest scores in history. Next week sees Newark II coming to Eakring Road for a tougher contest, another league game which kicks of at 2:30pm. Although loosing 24-5 to Nottingham Mansfield Under 13’s showed more good signs of improvement. Danny Booth (man of the match) scoring Mansfield’s only try with an all inspiring pick up at the 22 driving through the heart of Nottingham’s defence to the try line with the support of his pack. However, Mansfield need to raise their starting performance as once again Nottingham’s points all came in the first half.  Quality performances from Luke Wyn-Higgins and Dan Vasper who both had try scoring chances squashed by last ditch tackling from Nottingham and Josh Kimberly who went over but was unable to ground the ball show that once in their stride the talent and application are there to start the wins flowing. Better news from the Under 16s U16 with a 45 – 7 win over Nottingham. The Mansfield backs handled well and were incisive from an early ruck ball for winger James Gibson to score the first try in the corner. Flanker Aiden McGregor crashed through soon after to add a second. Centre Andreas Zacharia added two more tries for the back division, whilst Prop Nick Bansal followed with his brace and Flanker ,'Man of the Match', Alan Symcox one more for the Forwards. Five conversions for Stand Off Jonathan Williams with one late consolation converted try for Nottingham to close the scoring. Next meet Sun 7th Nov 10am, R1 Cup v Sleaford  KO 11am Hom

 

 

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