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Mansfield maintain improvement.

Powergen Midlands 2 East

MANSFIELD  20   MATLOCK  3

At the end of October Mansfield suffered a 20 – 5 defeat at Matlock with what many regarded as the most inept performance in the club’s history. An in depth heart to heart followed and on Saturday that defeat was avenged as the Blue and Whites made it eight wins in nine games. Results elsewhere mean that Mansfield opened up a three point gap in fifth and seven points clear of the relegation places.

The opening minutes matched the weather, a bright and breezy opening with Matlock’s slick and speedy three quarter’s testing out the Mansfield defence whilst their forwards struggled to cope with the home front eight. Robinson tidied the long ball return of Mansfield’s kick off and Ashley linked with Smedley as Mansfield launched down the middle.

A penalty brought Matlock a line out in the 22 but Drury spoilt possession and a solid scrum gave Rutter the chance to clear long down the slope. His next action was to chip for Jones and Wills to chase but the centres were sent scrambling back to force the Matlock wing into touch with the line beckoning. Mansfield used the lineout to springboard forward through Pritchard, Drury and Holmes and force ten minutes of sustained pressure.

Harrison picked out Pritchard at the line out and quick ball saw the three quarters attacking with Storey looping to make the over lap before running out of space. As the Derbyshire side used the high ball to lift the siege Waterhouse made himself available as Robinson collected. Running ripostes found a wall of Lindsay, Holmes and the Mansfield backs keeping play well downfield. Harrison stole ball at the ruck and Ashley showing the style that made him the TeamLink Travel Man of the Match took the Blue and Whites within ten metres.

A tackle from Jones jolted the ball clear and a series of scrums saw a penalty and 5 metre lineout. Pritchard caught and a spinning drive directed by Smedley ended with the youthful, mature Ashley guiding the ball down for the opening try. The conversion shaved the posts and Mansfield relaxed to show indecision from the kick off. A kickable penalty for Matlock faded in the wind but the 22 drop out saw them back on the attack. Robinson found a tackle to keep the line intact but errors at the lineout and a second penalty opportunity on twenty five minutes was not scorned.

Mansfield kept up their forward momentum, Harrison and Holmes securing a good supply of loose ball and Newbould, Lindsay and Stringfellow providing incisive runs to turn the defence. The response from Matlock was to use speed wide and high balls into the gaps. Storey reacted well in his 22 for a mark and when the next move swept right Robinson read the play, intercepted and used his strength to break to half way.

Another interception, this time from Wills saw the centre dart away and Jones’ support on his shoulder gave a platform for the forwards to drive and win a five metre lineout. Stout defence held, another lineout and Jones was held in touch in goal before two more desperate penalties and a yellow card to reduce Matlock to fourteen. Mansfield needed no more encouragement and the well worked routine of a pinpoint throw, Pritchard catch and driving maul saw the imposing second row add to his try tally.

As half time arrived Mansfield were again on the move through Holmes and Ashley before the three quarters sent Storey wide down the wing to within seven metres. A seven point half time lead left the game very much in the balance but Mansfield contrived forty minutes of rugby to contain their opponents and turn their territorial advantage and possession into ten more points.

With Bacon replacing Waterhouse Robinson slotted into his familiar full back role and was immediately making his presence felt to block a speculative chip through. Next he was launching himself on a thirty metre run from deep, continued by Holmes and setting up an interchange of passes between Jones and Wills. Rutter moved the ball deep and wide to keep distance between Matlock and the Mansfield line before another long speculative punt brought Robinson forward. His pass to Bacon didn’t seem to carry that much threat but the young winger’s mazy run took him through half the visiting side before being stooped at the expense of a penalty.

Rutter obliged to give a two score gap at 13-3 before Bacon was again off on his travels into the Matlock 22. Drury continued to wrestle vital possession in tight situations before giving way to Crookes and the young prop showed he too could find his way through the opponents cover.

The busiest member of the Mansfield squad was turning out to be physio Helen Hiley as the intensity of the tackling provided plenty of lumps and bruises to treat. Despite the runs from Pritchard, Storey, Bacon and Wills the home side could not find the final incisive ball to make the game safe. They continued to exert the forward pressure and after Ashley gave way to Newton Matlock found they had another strong running back row option to face. Stringfellow took the Blue and Whites forward but a quick counter needed Smedley’s reaction and smothering tackle to prevent a try in the corner.

Newton found the contrasting combination of Newbould and Wills carrying the ball over half way and after good inter-passing in the backs Crookes broke tackles before Rutter and Storey put Mansfield within striking distance.      

Another Harrison – Pritchard platform took the ball from line out to line and below the pile of bodies the hooker secured try number three, which with Rutter’s conversion dissecting the uprights, sealed the game at 20-3. There was still time for Smedley to collect a pass off his boot laces and go close down the right, Wills and Bacon to prove their tackling credentials before linking with Jones to springboard forward but no more points.

Mansfield are not safe yet but the picture is so much more rosy than when the sides last clashed. Before they can make relegation mathematically impossible they will have to sit out and watch others as their match at Loughborough Students this week was postponed due to National Cup commitments. Mansfield own Cup exploits will see them travel to Scunthorpe or Market Rasen in the NLD Cup Semi Final and they await news of Paviors availability to come to Eakring Road in the County Cup.

Mansfield II v Matlock II - Away

Mansfield travelled to Matlock in the return fixture for the league looking to gain maximum points from both games. This was achieved comfortably with a 27-0 victory which could have been more if Mansfield had kept there concentration for the full eighty minutes.

Mansfield started the game at a frantic pace with the forwards driving the opposition back into their own half, Davies then released the backs who produced some slick handling to put Newton away in the corner. From the restart Mansfield attacked at every opportunity, Rushby and Wagstaff constantly putting the Matlock back line under pressure. With Matlock conceding several penalties Troman pinned them back into their own twenty two which resulted in a maul, then from out of nowhere Soar pounced on the Matlock scrum half, ripped the ball free and dashed twenty yards to score Mansfield’s second try of the afternoon. Mansfield scored their third try on the stroke of half time when Newton joined the back line at pace and cut the defence in two to score under the posts.

Most of the second half saw Mansfield dominate all areas of play and looked at times as if the floodgates were about to open, but to Matlocks credit they defended well. Mansfield’s Toon, Hooper and Pike combined well which allowed the rest of the forwards to drive over the line for Kirk to score try number five to secure the league points.     

Mansfield III v West Bridgford II – Home

Mansfield 3rds took to the field with their tails in the air but West Bridgford had other ideas winning 14-37. From the kick off Bridgford’s backs dominated the day with flowing and well executed moves which saw 5 tries with Parker scoring Mansfield’s only try in the first half. Mansfield’s pack gave Bridgford 2nds a lesson in scrummaging and line out but failed to turn the possesion into points. Bridgford only scored 2 tries in the second half. There was a welcome return by 2 players for Mansfield in Draper and Garrett. Man Of The Match went to Mansfield’s second try scorer Andy Berryman. Overall Mansfield were out classed in the backs by a better good second string but it was a big improvement from the previous week.

Mansfield IV v – No game

Mansfield V v Hope Valley I - Away

The young mobile Mansfield 5th team just had no answer to the Hope Valley 1st team “Juggernaut” losing 19-0 away. Mansfield gave away at least 5 stone per man in the pack so it wasn’t surprising that they were driven off their own  ball in all scrums and rucks. To add further insult to injury Hope Valley cleaned up in the line out too which robbed Mansfield’s backs of the platform they had become accustomed to over the first half of the season. The boggy state of the pitch was also a contributing factor to Hope’s dominance. Their large pack trudge the park at a lesser pace which, to their credit, suited their size and managed 3 tries for their efforts in the second half. Out gunned but with their heads held up high Mansfield did well to hold the “huge” Valley to 19 points. A great character building performance from the whole team with the Man Of The Match going to Phil Gundle returning after a 5 week absence with a broken arm

 

 

 

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