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Lightning fails to strike twice POWERGEN MIDLANDS 2 EAST MANSFIELD  21   LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS  24  Two years ago, in what many believe was the finest game played on Eakring Road, Brad Rutter landed three points to claim victory with the last kick of the game. Last Saturday the skipper, whose kicking game throughout had done much to keep Mansfield in the hunt, had the final kick to level the game. We all know, however, that lightning never strikes twice and his forty metre attempt drifted on the wind an agonising foot outside the upright. The expected pattern of free running visiting backs and power and possession from Mansfield was soon set. Williams whose power in the set pieces and ball carrying saw him named JASS Interiors Man of the Match linked with Kirk to allow the backs to test the Students defence. Ashley drove close to his pack and Arnold angled a run to carry Mansfield to the visiting 22. Storey was squeezed to touch and Robinson, from centre, held the ball up for Stringfellow and Taylor to threaten the line. At every breakdown or scrambled set piece they held Loughborough posed a threat. Twice they created the gap for a knock on and a forward pass to let Mansfield off the hook. On thirteen minutes there was no such relief. A perfectly executed line out, well drilled maul and smooth as silk the ball rippled down the backs for the winger to score. It looked as though a repeat was on the cards but full back Waterhouse smothered the ball in a great last ditch tackle. Apart from back row moves from Lindsay and Ashley behind a solid scrum and some driving mauls from their line out Mansfield were struggling to create. The Students looked to unleash their speed with chips over the top but the dead ball line, Wayne Robinson and Ollie Newbould covering back prevented tries. On twenty six minutes the Blue and Whites went further behind, though not without controversy. The space was created but a combination of Waterhouse and Bacon took the winger to the corner and as he twisted in mid air before touching down the corner flag came into play. The referee needed the help of the touch judge but he appeared on sabbatical someway up the pitch and confirmed the score from afar. A second well struck conversion ensured a lead of 14 – 0. Loughborough looked to pull clear but Ashley stole an attacking line out and Smedley cut through to force a penalty. Stringfellow earned another after his powerful run but both line outs saw Mansfield errors. It was down to the power in the pack to bring just reward.  Driving forward Ashley picked up at eight, the pack supported and Williams took the ball to ground, Rutter’s conversion made it 14 – 7. That should have been the half time score but Mansfield indulged in their art of relaxation after scoring and in the two minutes of stoppage time allowed a missed kick to touch to let the visitors develop a third try, this time unconverted. Clearly stung Mansfield began the second period with textbook forward play. Taking ball against the head they moved as a unit to drive over the line from outside the 22. Loughborough got bodies under that pile up but the five metre scrums that followed saw their front row standing up and the inevitable penalty try was converted by Rutter. Attempting to maintain the pressure Mansfield twice conceded penalties in the visitors 22, saw Stringfellow steal loose ball but they failed to close the five point gap. The Students took advantage of some ping pong kicking to attack from deep but twice more they threw forward passes when score looked certain. Another Waterhouse tackle not only took out the ball carrier but disrupted the two man overlap, Newbould’s speed surprised the fly half but the next wave saw indifferent tackling in midfield and that was all that was needed to open up a ten point lead. Beaumont made sure his introduction to a reshuffled pack was noticed and nearly took Mansfield clear, linking with Taylor and Robinson. As the clock ticked down Loughborough became more ragged and fractious. A yellow card gave Mansfield the extra man for the final ten minutes and with Waterhouse and Rutter angling kicks deep behind the defence the onslaught began. Mansfield continued to dominate the scrums and Pike the line outs. Finally a break inside gave Arnold the chance to come off his wing and power through with the Mansfield front eight in support. Rutter coolly slotted the conversion to leave the sides three points apart. Mansfield forced their way back up field. But as we all know lightning doesn’t strike twice.  ‘The team is improving week by week’ was Coach John Tasker’s assessment, ‘and just a little more confidence and eighty minutes of concentration and the wins will come.’ Mansfield have the opportunity to start that winning run at Matlock this Saturday. The newly promoted Derbyshire side have acquitted themselves well in the opening weeks and earned praise in defeat at Peterborough last weekend Mansfield II v Moderns II - away After last weeks disappointing defeat Mansfield 2nd team returned to winning ways by beating Nottingham Moderns 51-3. Mansfields young, eager back row of Hooper, Newton and Haynes troubled moderns all game with quick running, good hand work and solid defence. Brown was first on the score board with a fine solo effort down the blind side where Newton was on hand to score the second after some tight passing moves from the front eight. After turning round only 10-0 up at half time Mansfield started to put some strong passages of play together. This resulted in quick tries from Harrison, Draycott and Wells. Moderns heads started to go down as Mansfield put more pressure on the defence which resulted in Brown picking up on a handling error and scoring under the posts. Draycott and Cartwright capped the game off with two textbook moves that cut the opposition defence in two.  Mansfield III v Moderns III - Home The 70-0 scoreline did not give Nottingham Moderns the credit they duely deserved. Short of regular players including their front row, Moderns declared the league points to Mansfield but put up a brave fight. Many a team would have given up at half time. Mansfield again fielded a mixture of youth and experience. The uncontested scrummages played into Mansfields hands with exceptional performances from youngsters Scott at scrum half and Ratcliffe at No8. The pace of the game was too much for the Wilford outfit which saw a flurry of tries from several players. Lee Garrett earned the jug award for most tries. At 50-0 at half time the game was all but over until the opposition made some good in roads through Mansfields defence but failing at the last hurdle. Solid tackling from Radford put paid to that. Man of the match Scott. Mansfield IV v Burton III - Away The 4ths travelled to Burton 3rds on Saturday with only 4 regular players available but thanks to young up and coming colts making their way up the ranks they were able to fulfil the fixture. A strong Burton side came out and ran in a try within 2 minutes and from that springboard start Burton dominated the game and could easily have come out victors by 50 plus points but great tackling and staunch defending kept the score down to 27-0. The young side were up against it but gave a good account of themselves and came away heads held high. Notable performances from Darren Marshall, Andy Sykes and the Whittlestone brothers.

 

 

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