Mansfield outclassed by clever K’s.
Midlands 2 East
MANSFIELD 13 KETTERING 42
Despite their liveliest start of the campaign to date and an eighth minute lead that lasted through the first quarter of the game Mansfield found themselves overwhelmed by a slick Kettering side. The tally of six tries to two was in the end a reflection of the game but that spirited start and the battling way the Blue and Whites picked up two tries in the final ten minutes gave much hope for the games to come. Results elsewhere did mean that a table of two halves is emerging and Mansfield has four teams not two within touching distance.
Straight from the kick off fielded by Stringfellow Mansfield took the game to the opposition. Wagstaff and Arnold were first to show attacking intent and when Smedley broke both Newton brothers were on hand, Tom spinning away into the 22. Arnold again showed strength but with the line two metres away was isolated and penalised for holding on.
Storey was next to show his pace but with the wind making line out throws a lottery Mansfield were depending on superior scrumaging to create a platform. Holmes, lively as ever, peeled away form the base of a scrum, and with Stringfellow and Smedley Mansfield had the visitors defence at full stretch. Holmes again made headway with Richard Newton at his shoulder and a penalty was conceded. Despite the blustery conditions Waggstaff was accurate and the first three points went on the board.
With Kirk taking the restart, leading from the front and Jones keen to use the strong wind to peg Kettering back Mansfield kept up the pressure. Drury and Stringfellow combined to snuff out a counter attack from the Ks own half and Spencer carried play to the 22. There were, however, worrying signs that given half a chance the visiting backs had the speed and skill to wreak havoc in the Blue and Whites defence.
It took all the speed that Wills could muster to and a brave last ditch tackle that took man and corner flag to prevent a try and Arnold and Waggstaff to combine and bundle into touch on the opposite wing. As the second quarter opened the lines were breached as a back row move created an overlap and try under the posts, for all their possession and territory Mansfield were trailing.
Having won the long kick off back through a steal at the line out, with Spencer recovering the ball, Mansfield again attacked the Kettering line. Hands in a retreating scrum created a line out and in the ruck after a yellow card for the visitors. The resultant penalty slipped by the far upright but after Waggstaff put Mansfield back on the offensive under a high ball Holmes and Taylor both saw runs held close by the try line.
A yellow card for Stringfellow evened up the numbers and the next ten minutes saw the game effectively sealed for Kettering. From the Mansfield ten metre line the visiting right wing set off on a run. Five missed tackles later he was touching down with the home defence in tatters behind him. If anyone thought that lightning could not strike twice they had a sharp reminder two minutes later with a near carbon copy repeat from the visitors outside centre.
As Stringfellow prepared to return to the action another blow struck with a Waggstaff tackle deemed too high and too dangerous and Mansfield were to continue with fourteen men into the second half, trailing 21-3. That half began, as the first, with Mansfield showing adventure. Arnold led the way and Grant, Holmes and Stringfellow setting up play in the opposition 22. Holmes again made inroads, linking with Tom Newton before the young flanker had to make an 80 metre dash back to his own 5 metre line to haul down a breakaway and pervert another try.
The relief was short lived and again suspect tackling allowed the Ks scrum half to scamper over for try number four. The fifth was not long in coming and contained the best rugby of the day with forwards and backs interchanging passes from close to their own 22 in a passage that sent the right winger away to the posts.
Wills and Grant tried to break the gain line for Mansfield before Grubb appeared and beat three men on a cross field run. With Hooper also coming off the bench Mansfield’s fresh legs were providing vital cover. Smedley under great pressure saved Mansfield in defence then move play fifty metres up the touch line, while Storey and Waggstaff played the ball out of danger and again pushed Mansfield forward.
Defensive frailties on sixty five minutes saw a pick up from a 5 metre scrum by the number eight to add a sixth try and despite the wind condition a 100% conversion rate from the Ks full back. However, this Mansfield side simply refuse to buckle and the rest of the scoring went to the home side.
Hadley taking over propping duties showed strength as a ball carrier before the whole Mansfield pack developed a drive. Keeping the ball alive and switching angles Mansfield got tantalisingly close before Spencer was able to make the touchdown. Waggstaff’s conversion came back off the post but Mansfield cam e back to the attack. Hooper carried the kick off back over halfway and Smedley was quick to tap a penalty and dart to the 22. A powerful Arnold run showed his intent, Taylor wrestled his way clear of two tacklers and fed Grubb who angled his run through a half gap. Again Mansfield was forcing the pace and pressure in the five metre zone and Spencer cemented his claim to be the AIPS Man of the Match with his second try.
‘Disappointment with the result and some basic errors that need eliminating, but plenty of commitment and effort,’ summarised Coach Steve Smith. How close Mansfield are to turning that into victories and pressurising the clutch of clubs just ahead of them is the big Eakring Road question. This weekend gives a rare ‘friendly’ and the chance to experiment outside the pressures of cup or league competition.
Mansfield II v Kettering II - Home
An extremely hard fought game at Mansfield saw Kettering achieve a prized double win over the 1st and 2nd teams, Kettering winning the 2nds 6-10. For most of the first half Mansfield were able to exert their dominance over the visitors but ended the 40 mins with only 3 points, courtesy of a Waterhouse penalty, to show for several periods of sustained pressure. The second half was contested just as keenly but after a penalty and converted try for Kettering and a further penalty from Waterhouse, Mansfield were left to rue several missed chances as they were unable to find that killer instinct and finish off Kettering. Mansfield will be pleased with their performance as they enjoyed the majority of possession and showed great spirit and attitude as they continued to battle up until the final whistle, and with a bit of luck would probably have run in several scores. Excellent performances from Miles and Poulter capped fine debuts and showed much promise for the future.
Mansfield III v Kesteven II - Away
The young developing Mansfield 3rd team travelled to Grantham and were kicking themselves for letting this game slip from their grasp losing 17-14. Again an opposition with a massive pack was to be their downfall in creating any set pattern of play. In the first 10 mins Mansfield got off to a great start with a fine try from flying winger Jonathan Colley but Kesteven rallied and through their bruising forwards scored a pushover try to even the scores. After the break Mansfield took the game back to them and were rewarded with another great try through Adam Whittlestone. Kesteven came back and scored a pushover try to make the scores 14-12 to Mansfield with 20mins to play. Mansfield lifted their game and against the run of play, a charged down kick let the Kesteven centre in for a try to take the lead. 2 conversions for captain Marshall and an oustanding performance at centre for man of the match Nick Wallace.
Mansfield V v Sleaford III - Away
This aged Mansfield side had to do a job on this strong Sleaford XV who previously beat Mansfields 3rd team earlier in the season and came away smiling having won 13-17. Solid performances from 1 to 15 ended the 4ths run of close defeats by out muscling the home side to edge the win.
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