Peterborough pushed all the way
POWERGEN MIDLANDS 2 EAST
MANSFIELD 27 PETERBOROUGH 37
There were three pleasing aspects to Saturday at Eakring Road. Peterborough thanks to a home defeat for Derby booked a home tie in the promotion play offs. Mansfield after a disastrous start to the game showed they have the determination not to cave in and the ability to compete with any side in the table. Most pleasing, however, was the news that Mansfield full back Danny Waterhouse had not sustained any serious injury after a worrying fall on head and neck that necessitated the Air Ambulance to transport him to hospital.
The sickening looking fall as he was tackled when kicking to touch brought immediate responses and treatment from Mansfield Physio Vikki Lett, her Peterborough counterpart and Referee Mark Camm, whose pre-match briefing ensured Danny was rapidly immobilised. With all medical services to hand the players left the field for 35 minutes before returning to complete a pulsating afternoon.
From Mansfield’s perspective the only criticism that could be levelled at Mr. Camm all afternoon was that he kicked off ten minutes too early. Not for the first time this season Mansfield were caught cold. Receiving the kick off a punt from the 22 failed to find touch, was swiftly run back and the Blue and Whites conceded a try on 32 seconds. The simple conversion seemed to signal that Posh were on their way.
That was reinforced in the third minute with try number two. Despite recovering the restart and beginning a move through Wayne Robinson, Jones, and Ashley that ended with Rushby being tackled into touch it was soon defence again. Slick, instinctive inter-passing created an overlap and a converted try on seven minutes with a near carbon copy moving the score to 24-0 and only ten minutes on the clock.
The Peterborough faithful thought their promotion juggernaut was about to sweep all before it. The Mansfield faithful were silently wondering what the clubs record defeat was. The Mansfield players thought enough was enough. What followed brought a crescendo o0f vociferous support and a tingle to the senses.
Peterborough looked to work a long lineout throw only fro the alert Smedley to siege the ball. The drive from Pritchard, Newbould, Ashley and Kirk gave a hint of things to come. Jones turned the defenders with a grubber kick and then he and Bacon harried the last line of defence.
Stringfellow recovered a long clearance and hoisted an up and under that was hacked to touch. Mansfield was Pritchard snaffle Kirk’s throw and despite Smedley darting away to the line only to be held up Ashley was on hand to finish the move. Waterhouse’s kick from wide out across the strong wind dissected the posts.
A sense of relief turned to excited expectation as Kirk was first up to claim the ball and Rushby quick to manufacture a break. A Mansfield penalty was drilled to within 15 metres and Holmes spun away to get within inches of the line. Ashley was held at the expense of a penalty and Lindsay took the line out ball, powered forward with his pack and Stringfellow nursed the ball to ground. Another great Waterhouse kick and on twenty five minutes Mansfield had pulled back to 24-14.
Ten minutes of two sides striving to make the breaks, Posh through their backs and Mansfield through the front eight ensued. Holmes made one his many runs which won him the Hanson Building Products Man of the Match award. Waterhouse drilled the ball long and Drury and Lindsay proved willing ball carriers. A shuddering tackle from Brown dislodged the ball and turned defence into attack. A late tackle on Ashley allowed Mansfield to set up another line out and great driving moved the play 30 metres forward. Pritchard supplied the clean catch and the final touch from the next move and Mansfield were within five points.
The anxiousness of Mansfield to maintain the pressure saw Bacon pick up a yellow card for a trip in the visitors 22 and the half time whistle gave everyone the chance to draw their breath. The second period began with Peterborough looking for another flying start but Mansfield marshalled their defence before the injury to Waterhouse forced an extended break.
Hooper replaced Lindsay at the restart and his first action was to steal a Peterborough line out and Jones took Mansfield over half way. Ashley and Holmes tried to force Mansfield up field but once again the speed and invention of the Posh back line undid them. A blistering burst of pace down the right wing made the difference ten points. Robinson made a quick response with a penalty and after Kirk took the ball against the head Ashley and Karl Robinson broke the gain line.
Peterborough used relieving kicks to bring themselves back up field and used their line and drive technique to conjure an unconverted try going into the last quarter. The Mansfield spirit was far from quashed with Rushby and Jones breaking through the centre, Bacon and Brown testing out side but their forwards still the most potent weapon. Hooper again claimed the ball and when Smedley brought the pack into play for Ashley to drive over.
News of Derby’s defeat filtered through to the Peterborough ranks but such was the strength of the Mansfield challenge that they elected for a penalty kick to ensure victory by 37 to 27 rather than risk a try to share the spoils.
Easter Saturday sees Eakring Road host a 16 team Super Tens Tournament with the first games kicking off at 12.15. while Mansfield’s First Team turn their thoughts to the final league game at Spalding on Saturday week and the 50th. Anniversary celebration President’s match on St. Georges Day.
Mansfield V v Hope Valley I - Home
Mansfield 5th team pulled out their performance of the season to average out a mauling they received from Hope Valley earlier in the year to be clear 34-0 winners. It was an outstanding 15 man effort. The large and very experienced Hope Valley first XV outfit had no answer to the rampant Mansfield team who attacked from everywhere and at every opportunity. Eventually the constant pressure from Mansfield brought the rewards and they went in at the break 19-0 up.
Turning around, playing into the wind and rain made no difference to Mansfield who played with more determination and courage but still Hope Valley, with the weather advantage, still had no answer and Mansfield went on to score another two trys. In a spectacle of a game the whole of the Mansfield squad deserved to be awarded man-of-the-match. Scores for Mansfield came from Beaumont (2trys), S. Bonser (1try), A. Broadhurst (1try), S. Stevenson (1try), Gibbons (DG) and 3 conversions from Marshall.
On Saturday 15th April Mansfield RUFC are hosting a Super 10’s tournament with 16 club sides battling it out for shield and cup honours. The first KO is arranged for 12:15pm. All are welcome up to the Eakring Road ground for what will be a great day out. All players please report to the club by 11:30am so the sides can be organise
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