Mansfield hold on in game of two halves
Powergen Midlands 2 East
MANSFIELD 22 SPALDING 21
Mansfield notched their third successive league win, moved two places up the table to fifth and shredded their supporters’ nerves as they hung on for the narrowest of victories. From looking comfortably in control at half time the second half saw fifteen points scored, all by the visitors and a tense stoppage time knowing any slip would spell defeat.
Starting down the slope into a stiff wind Mansfield found themselves under early pressure and fell behind on the fourth minute to a penalty for holding on in their own 22. The pattern for the day was set from the off with Spalding dominant at the line out no matter who was throwing in but Mansfield in total control of the set scrums.
That control was brought to bear as a retreating Spalding scrum served up loose ball and Newton sharp to recover the ball gave Rutter the chance to drill the ball into the visitor’s 22. They failed to clear from the line out and Pritchard stole the ball to set up a rolling maul. Having gained the initiative Smedley spun the ball down the three quarters for Wills to crown his home debut by forcing his way through a half gap then twist away from the tacklers to touch down. A superb kick into the wind from touch saw Rutter push Mansfield in front 7-3.
If Bob Reeves of the Plough Inn Farnsfield had any doubts considering the Man of the Match Wills put the decision beyond doubt within six minutes. Strong tackling arrested Spalding’s attempts to move clear and when the time came to kick he was first charging down then recovering the ball and racing behind the posts to give Rutter the simplest of conversions.
When Spalding secured yet more line out ball they found themselves being driven back but Mansfield were conceding too many penalties and the Lincolnshire side went into the second quarter landing their second penalty. However, Mansfield were sparkling in their attack play and flowed out from their own 22 through Jones, Storey and Robinson. Excellent forward support saw Newton and Newbould break and Ashley forced play to the try line. The Mansfield pack was marshalled across the line by Smedley and Harrison was last to rise as the bodies were peeled off the ball.
Rutter wasted no time in returning play to the visiting 22 and Bacon showed his speed to chase down his opposite number and tackle him over the try line. The five metre scrum propelled Mansfield forwards and only a harsh call of releasing binding ruled out a push over try. Karl Robinson and Stringfellow both featured to bring Mansfield back into the danger zone and a back row combination of Ashley and Lindsay created another try line pile up before another penalty halted the move.
Mansfield continued to bring their backs into play, Bacon went close but a knock to Storey in the last move of the half saw Mansfield readjusting at the interval. Taylor, Mansfield’s versatile replacement covering as an emergency winger and centre and his tackling proved vital in the second half. The 22-6 lead was secured by Rutter with a penalty to round off a half where Mansfield had sparkled through the gloom.
The next forty minutes failed to live up to the start and Mansfield looked unrecognisable. Too many fumbles and penalties conceded when in attacking positions gave Spalding the confidence to take the game to the Blue and Whites. A try wide in the corner on fifty minutes rang alarm bells and worse still the final quarter was ushered in with a second under the posts and the lead was down to eight points.
Robinson, Taylor and Bacon had to make important tackles and Wills drilled the ball seventy metres to relieve an extended period of pressure. Unable to convert territory and possession into points to seal the game Mansfield cracked in the eightieth minute and the sides entered stoppage time with just a single point between them. Once more scrum power ensured the ball could be fed to Rutter and he kicked to touch to finish the contest amid audible sighs of relief.
This weekend sees Mansfield face the daunting trip to high flying Peterborough to play against their United Nations squad of internationals. They have been regularly posting seventy and eighty points but the last two outings have seen the ‘Boro falter and Mansfield will be aiming for the upset of the day and win number four in four outings. The 2nd XV face Paviors away in the first round of the 2nd team Notts. Cup, Kick off is 2:00pm and all supporters would be most welcome !
Mansfield II v Mellish II - Away
Mansfield 2nd team travelled to Mellish looking for a big game to set them up for the start of the cup competition next week but unfortunately things did not go to plan. Mansfield lost several players before the game even started so were forced to change players in several positions round and field two injured players as well, which was not the best preparation before a game. As it turned out all 15 players put it great performances to pull off a well-deserved 20-5 victory.
Mansfield started the game playing into the wind and used this to their advantage, keeping the ball in hand playing a fast open game. Mansfield attacked at every opportunity and it wasn’t long before this paid off. Several forward drives allowed quick hands down the back line for Garrett to score a textbook try in the corner. Straight from the re-start Mellish were put under pressure again, every time they tried to attack they faced a solid defence and it wasn’t long before Mansfield were pressing for another try. Good work from Haynes and Toon allowed Newton to feed Grant, who stepped inside the defence to make several yards before Shaw released his backs to repeat the same slick hands to the opposite wing for Brown to finish off by rounding his opposite man and scoring in the corner. Mellish managed to hold Mansfield out for the next twenty minutes but were constantly penned into their own 22. Going into the last ten minutes of the first half Mellish started to play a forwards game gradually forcing Mansfield into their own 22, but solid defending from the whole side kept them out.
Mellish started the second half as they finished the first with a series of driving mauls with fringe runners taking the game to Mansfield. Until now Mansfield had been able to cope with the forward size advantage that Mellish had but they had gradually slowed the game down to suit there style of play and were rewarded with a try through the forwards. After the re-start Mansfield picked the tempo up again and soon were rewarded for there efforts again, the ever present Robinson fed Rushby who then cleverly slipped the ball to Wagstaff, who then looped a pass over for Garrett to show his turn of pace and score in the corner. Mansfield had control of the game again and didn’t let the tempo drop this time. Troman pinned Mellish back in there own 22 with series of clever kicks which they failed to clear. As light was fading fast Mansfield attacked one last time, Saunders drove forward from a line out on the 22 which set up a quick pop ball for Crookes to take on then Beaumont picked up to go over for the final try on the stroke of full time.
Mansfield III v North Kesteven – Away
Mansfield lost this encounter wondering what they needed to do to get the much needed win going down 17-12. Mansfield, travelling away with two guest players, started the game with only a win on their minds but an early break away try put them 5-0 down. This was a wake up call for Mansfield who then began to run more straight and true dominating through the whole team. This exertion saw M. Williams score a well worked try. Mansfield continued to dominate the first half but were unlucky to consistently lose the 50/50 balls in Kestevens favour leading to yet another break away try just the whistle for end of half.
The second half brought multiple changes to the Kesteven side taking the initial upper hand and scoring their third try to make it 17-5 with the conversion. Mansfield rallied again to score a further try converted by the scorer Moody. Come the final whistle Mansfield relented as to why they could not convert the territory and possession into points. Encouraging signs from up and coming youth squad member Ratcliffe who stood out as the best player on the field.
Mansfield IV v Doncaster Vets - Home
Mansfield 4ths played host to Doncaster Vets on Saturday in a game where both sides were outstanding and came out triumphant 17-10 winners. Doncaster started much the stronger dominating in the forwards keeping Mansfield on the back foot although after 20 minutes of pressure they had not turned all their attack into points. From then on Mansfield turned their defence into attack. A half break by Sole took Mansfield to halfway, Doncaster retrieved the ball but then dropped a pass in the backs which allowed Whittlestone to pinch the loose ball and run in the first and only try of the half. Mansfield started the second period as they ended the first, Payne picked up a clearance deep in the Mansfield half and ran it all the way into the Doncaster 22 where Sole and Hubbard were on hand to take over and to storm over the try line. The home side added 7 more points 5 minutes later to go 17-0 up but the visitors would not give in without a fight and came back with 2 tries to make it a very tense last 10 minutes. Mansfield held out for their best win of the season to date. Mansfield man of the match was Alan Payne
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