<< Back to previous page

 

 

Prodigal son takes the spoils

SOUTHWELL  13   MANSFIELD  46

It was a mother and child reunion at Park Lane, Southwell on Saturday as Mansfield took a side back to their mother club 50 years on from a group leaving to form Mansfield RUFC. The game, a friendly, could have been a much anticipated Cup Semi Final and was certainly played with the intensity of one on the field, while the convivial atmosphere off it was a testament to the spirit of rugby and respect between the two clubs.

Kicking off Southwell tore into their illustrious visitors with pace and passion. Despite Stringfellow and Rutter clearing the initial danger Mansfield found they were pressurised at the first scrums and having line ball stolen by a leaping, ancient, athletic, gazelle Brooks who was following on from his performance at Eakring Road six days before. Mansfield was fortunate that a move from the Redman backs floundered on crossing in mid field and they were able to steady the frenetic start.

Having showed the steel of their cover defence Mansfield took play into the visitors half and after seven minutes were awarded a penalty in the 22. Mansfield opted for a line out instead of easy kick at goal but after Arnold ran Hooper’s line out catch and forwards drive into the centre Rutter accepted the second chance to land the three opening points.

With the scrum platform becoming more stable Rushby was able to move play back up field before a Wagstaff break was ended with a knock on as the backs tried to capitalise. A rock like mark by Robinson saw attackers bouncing off the full back, Newton and Ashley contrived to rumble away from the base of the scrum and Brown ghosted through the defence before a forward pass snuffed out a promising break.

With just three points on the board Mansfield moved into the second quarter and with three minutes landed two hammer blows. Arnold began an attack from Mansfield’s half, Wagstaff twice came into play on the loop as Brown and Rutter opened up the right wing before Hooper powered over for his first try in First Team colours. 

No conversion from that try but there was two minutes later as the kick off was run back through the three quarters for Brown to race clear. He drew the full back and that allowed Newton to demonstrate his pace from 22 to run in under the posts. Rutter’s conversion ensured a fifteen point lead and gave Mansfield the chance to entertain.

Kirk and Stringfellow showed sleight of hand in an interchange, Taylor moved play 25 metres and Rushby pirouetted out of two tackles before Arnold went close. A penalty on the half hour saw Moore put Southwell on the scoreboard and he went over on the stroke of half time for a try at the end of an angled run.

In between Mansfield had used a series of tap penalties to stretch the home defence right back onto their line. Stringfellow beat three men Drury and Kirk added impetus with Brown wrestling the last few metres. The referee brought play back in front of the posts for a Mansfield penalty and while Southwell looked to organise their defence Robinson took the tap and darted over.

Starting the second period 22-8 in front Mansfield recovered the kick off and Stringfellow with Drury on his shoulder put Mansfield into home territory. Newbould and Harrison came into play as knocks to Taylor and Newton were protected ahead of a week of Cup Finals. Hooper continued to serve up line out ball and with the Robinson brothers combining in attack Smedley and Ashley worked together to put the Blue and Whites within striking distance. Stringfellow was held up over the line but from the resulting scrum Arnold made it to the corner to open up a nineteen point lead.

The fitness, pace and power of the visitors saw the half settle to Mansfield pressure and Southwell rapier thrusts in response. Playing his last game after an influential and successful time with the club Coach Chris Armond intercepted but Williams had the pace to haul down his opposite winger to prevent a try at the end of the move. Hunt left the field denying he had been playing when Mansfield broke away and Brooks showed what two games against Mansfield in six days felt like.

Rushby continued to probe, Robinson took every opportunity to join the line from deep and with fifteen minutes remaining Rutter moved the ball off the back of a marauding forward’s drive and Arnold made it a brace of tries for his afternoon.

A well deserved consolation try through Scott Wright had the Southwell faithful baying for a late comeback victory. It was not to be as late tries from Brown, after an Ashley break, and Rushby on the end of a Williams, Robinson, Wagstaff move put a gloss on the final score.

The sides left the field to warm applause past the heartening sight of Ted Lane, on his first sojourn from his hospital bed having been critically ill. Mansfield’s Founder President watched the whole of this game against his former club between receiving the warm wishes of friends from both clubs. His and everyone else’s thoughts now turn to a big final week of the season for Mansfield.

Wednesday sees the Second Team contest the final of the Ron Rossin Shield against old rivals Newark at Paviors on Wednesday night with a 6.45 kick off. Despite two league wins during the season Coach Terry Davies was predicting a real cliff hanger of a game ‘This is a cup final and it has the typical spice of a Mansfield, Newark derby. League form counts for nothing.’

First Team Coach John Tasker was contemplating selection for his final game in charge of the side. ‘There are still places to be decided and plenty of competition to appear in Sunday’s line up. We know how tough Moderns can be and the performance they put up against us in last year’s final. I hope all our Three Counties players come through unscathed because we will need to be at full strength mentally and physically.’

The Mansfield club will hope John bows out at the end of his seven year reign, which has been the most successful in the club’s history, with the Notts. Cup safely back on the mantelpiece. They kick off at 3 p.m. but the rugby entertainment starts at 1p.m. with Worksop and East Retford contesting the Junior Cup Final

Mansfield ‘A’ v Meden Vale I

Mansfield had to fight hard to out gun a big hard Vale pack to finish off the season with a 24-12 win at Eakring Road. The home side started the more agile, using their fast backs to full effect to stretch the Vale forwards across the park. It took 10 minutes before Mansfield opened the scoring. Playing up the hill they applied good solid pressure and worked hard to gain two successive 5 metre scrums. Vale were the stronger in the tight so it was no surprise when the experienced scrum half Cartwright used quick scrum ball to attack left, dummy the opposition fly half Smith and inside centre to score under the posts to leave an easy conversion for Payne.

This score woke Vale up who pressurised Mansfield’s line for the rest of the half but Mansfield’s defence held strong to finish the half 7-0 up. A few substitutions at half time bolstered Mansfield’s pack with the extra weight they were missing in the first half and a big thank you to J. Caldwell who pulled on a Vale shirt when their loose head prop had to retire from the game. From here on in the game became fierce but fair with both sides putting some bone crunching tackles in which made the spectators gasp on many occasion. Mansfield seemed to compete better up front, matching the big Vale forwards but seemed to forget about the advantage they had in the backs. Mansfield scored again via Route One but the game had slowed down due to the heat and fiery confrontations. Vale took used this to effect and scored through their now confidence growing backs directed by Ellison. At this stage Mansfield realised they could lose this game and credit to them started to do something about it. They began to play some awesome rugby with forward and back inter play using the downhill slope to the advantage. A couple more scores for Mansfield and another for Vale saw what was always going to be a tough encounter end with a Mansfield victory. This was the last fixture of the season for the third team.

Mansfield 2nds play Newark in the NLD shield final on the evening of Wednesday 3rd. The venue is at Paviors Rugby Club near the Burnt Stump. Kick off at 6:45pm. All support welcome.

 

 

CLICK FOR ALL THE OTHER MIDLANDS 2 EAST RESULTS, COURTESY OF RUGBY ROUND-UP