More woe for lacklustre Mansfield
Powergen Midlands One
DUNSTABLIANS 69 MANSFIELD 3
Mansfield entered the final weeks of the season and the pivotal month of April with their most pedestrian and disjointed performance of the season. Throughout the campaign and even when under the cosh from the better sides in the league they had conjured up tries and flurries of scoring to remind everyone this is a Championship winning side of just twelve months ago.
Saturday brought fifteen minutes of intense forward pressure in the second half but that aside there was little to convince their support that points were about to flow. Ball lost in contact after good line out work from Pike and a Taylor run led to a converted try on just three minutes. Mansfield did show their rolling maul directed by Kirk with Pritchard and Stringfellow prominent could gain ground and after one thirty metre drive Rutter slotted a 35 metre penalty.
That, however, was all that come the way of the Blue and Whites as another effort from the skipper cannoned off the post. On eighteen minutes despite big tackles from Drury and Buchanan the home side had the choice of three men overlapping to pick their next scorer. Despite Jones and Rushby shoring up the centre of defence Dunstablians had the skill to keep the ball alive, in hand and the quarter ended with Mansfield 19-3 adrift.
Rushby showed his game also had an attacking dimension and from deep in their own 22 Waterhouse and Wagstaffe kicked Mansfield to the home line and forced a 5 metre scrum.
Fumbles cost possession then and also when Robinson breached the defence to force a penalty and drive from the line out. At least Dunstablians, still chasing the play off spot had to be alert to the breaks of Smedley including a cheeky steal of the home side’s heel. If anything was to salvaged Mansfield’s own indiscipline put an end to that in the dying minutes of the half.
In good position and exerting great pressure on the home front row that spent much of their scrum duties standing upright or wheeling a decision went against the pack. Instead of another opportunity to drive words in the referee’s direction meant a penalty. Instead of a platform to turn round at 19-10 Dunstablians went straight up field and in to the interval leading 26-3.
The opening ten minutes after the break saw the three tries and the game truly decided. Without Williams tackling and ripping the ball clear to springboard away from their own line it may have been worse. Newbould who came on for the second period could cite his try line interventions to prevent further scoring and a debut for young Steve Bacon was marked by a telling recovery of a Mansfield kick off and combination tackles with Rushby to occasionally halt the tide sweeping to the Mansfield line.
Lindsay, back after a four week lay off proved fitness and hunger to go forward in the final quarter but the tally of eleven tries tells its own story. Mansfield had failed to play any significant part in the race for the play off spot but results round the country mean their last league game of the season in a fortnight will decide the last relegation spot.
Whitchurch and Derby are tied on fifteen points and a wafer thin six points means the Shropshire side are in the survival place. With the Rams at Kettering who need at least a draw to be sure of finishing second all eyes will be on Eakring Road looking for NLD camaraderie to give Derby a chance to leap up through the trap door.
All that has to wait for this week’s cup action and vital games for both Seniors and Juniors. Newly promoted and Champions elect Paviors will be in opposition to the Blue and Whites twice in Midlands Two next year and on Saturday make the journey to Eakring Road in the Notts. Cup Semi Final. Moderns await the winners as a very confident Paviors, 41-17 victors over Loughborough last weekend and a point clear going to the final game of the season will look to continue a run which sees them unbeaten since February. The return to fitness and availability of four key men will dictate Coach John Tasker’s squad of twenty.
Sunday will see the Under 15’s travelling to Lincolnshire to contest the NLD Cup Final against Newark. That is bound to be a tight contest and many looked for pointers in the 7’s competition last weekend.
Mansfield Under 15's 'A' squad reached their third final in 4 weeks, eventually losing to a very good Glossop team who had topped their group and beat Grimsby in their semi-final of the Notts, Lincs, Derbys 7's tournament held at Market Rasen. To reach the final Mansfield played some excellent rugby beating Mansfield 'B' 22 - 5, Sleaford 29 - 0, Boston 34 - 0, Newark 'B' 12 - 0 and after losing to the Newark 'A' squad in the group stage they won through beating them 21 - 14 in their semi-final.
Mansfield's points were scored by Samuel Cordin with 7 tries, Joe Kimberley, Tom Clark and Jordan Bailey with 4 tries each, Niall Goldie with 2 tries and Barney Bromley with 1. Bailey added to his tries with 11 drop kick conversions.
The 'B' squad played their part in a very competitive tournament with 27 - 0 victory over Boston and narrow loss to Sleaford. However, they were overpowered by the teams from Newark and the Mansfield 'A' squad. Points were scored by Steph Clay with 4 tries, Simon Rowland with 2 tries and James Appleton with 1. Clay added to his tries with 2 drop kick conversions.
Not to be out done the Under 14’s brought home the sevens title for the second time in two years winning the final game against Stamford 28-5. Nottinghamshire’s Under 14’s who have Eakring Road as their training base will round off their season on Sunday 24th. at home to Lincolnshire, kick off at 1.30.
Mansfield U16s won 20-10 away at Dinnington. Recent squad additions Tom Key, Tom Evans, Barry Eccleshare and Gary Featherstone made their debuts in last weeks 69-0 drubbing of Mellish and this week had a true taste of a competitive Club Rugby match. Although not a fluent performance, Mansfield settled and did enough to put Centre Andreas Zacharia in for his well taken hat-trick with a conversion and penalty kick for No.10 Jonathan Williams. Simple missed tackles allowed Dinnington in twice and but for some superb cover work from back row 'Man of the Match' Michael Lowery it could have been more.
Next game home to Derby meet 10am Sun 17th
On Thursday the Nottinghamshire Schools Finals at Eakring Road will also see special tribute to Alex McKie, late Chairman of 103.2FM. A great Rugby man and active in education, notably as Chairman of Garibaldi School Governors, mourners from his funeral will be at Eakring Road in a fitting link with two of his great passions in life.
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