SENIOR RESULTS
Too little too
late from Mansfield
Midlands 2 East
MANSFIELD
15 NEWARK 20
A score line that flattered Mansfield
who took more than seventy minutes to register on the scoreboard. Yet as had
been the pattern of all the games in the last two seasons the game hung in the
balance until the final shrill blast on the referees whistle.
In reality Mansfield were caught cold
by a determined Newark side who’s stubborn and resolute defence kept their hosts
out until those dying minutes. They used all their experience and shrewd choice
of options in stark contrast to a young Mansfield side that gifted chances to
the opposition
Right from the start Mansfield were
under pressure after failing to tidy the kick off and were relieved to touch
down for a 22. However, instead of regrouping for the kick a quick sliced kick
put Newark back in sight of the try line and, after a knock on, an attacking
scrum. At the second time of asking Newark’s back row move took them clear and
five points in front in two minutes.
The visitors came straight back and
Symcox had to scramble to clear a testing kick before Mansfield were struggling
to contain a Newark drive from the line out and handling on the floor gifted a
penalty in front of the posts. Seven minutes and eight points behind Mansfield
finally showed attacking intent. Lindsay recovered line out ball and with Holmes
and Beaumont in attendance drove forward. Worryingly having taken the ball into
contact it re-emerged in Newark’s hand, something that happened all too often
during the afternoon.
A towering kick and Arnold showed
first sure hands and then great strength to move back the tacklers and give
Mansfield the chance to go back into the Newark half. Roberts started a move
from the base of the scrum ending with a Mansfield penalty. Again Lindsay picked
off Kirk’s throw and Shaw and Jones opened up the back line. Speed and slick
handling between Bacon and Wills had the crowd on their feet cheering a home try
but joy was short lived with a foot marginally in touch cancelling out the
score.
Moving into the second quarter Rushby
angled through a gap and Beaumont, on his way to claiming the Hanson Building
Products Man of the Match, wrestled ball clear. A warning to the Newark side
came as a string of penalties and lineouts took the Blue and Whites to within
eight metres. A catch by Pritchard and drive might have been a Mansfield try but
the ball was lost and drilled back down the field.
From the line out the Mansfield pack
trundled forward before Arnold went to within ten metres but his final pass was
intercepted to deny Jones a try. The game appeared to be moving towards the Blue
and Whites but the twin demons of inexperience and indiscipline raised their
head again. Having pegged Newark back and forcing a speculative kick a petulant
late challenge gifted the visitors a penalty and a line out. The catch and drive
was executed and the lead moved on to 13-0 in the thirty-fifth minute. Two more
minutes and fumbles and turnovers put Mansfield on the back foot. A cross-field
kick saw hesitation in the defence and seven more points on the board.
The half ended with play firmly
encamped on the Newark line. Holmes run opened up play for the backs but a loose
pass brought an end to the move. A yellow card for the Newark scrum half and
penalty gave the opportunity for points before the break. Rather than taking
three points Mansfield kicked to touch and looked for a catch and drive try. It
was not to be and the interval score remained at 20-0.
A change brought Stringfellow into the
action and he was soon linking with Kirk and Holmes to take Mansfield up to
eighteen metres and a line out. Grant and Robinson created a second wave of
attack and Roberts went close with Shaw and Beaumont supporting. More pressure
ended with a wild pass when simple control would have sapped the Newark
defence.
Wills and Rushby threaded their way
through the heart of the visitors’ defence from half way but the final touch
remained elusive. After a monstrous kick from Wills moved Mansfield from their
own half to within five metres and Taylor, on for Roberts, assumed line out
duties to keep the attack going. Arnold ran and chipped to force a five-metre
scrum but still the points wouldn’t come.
Grant and Pritchard took play out of
the Mansfield half and Wills, Stringfellow and Taylor, slotting into the centre,
probed before winning a scrum. Developing their move from first Holmes and then
the strength of Coleman and Stringfellow Mansfield had the impetus to allow
Pritchard to register the first Mansfield try. With the conversion being dragged
wide Mansfield still needed three scores in seven minutes to win and that looked
far from likely.
However, the restart saw Jones and
Taylor with Bacon on a forty metres run. As Newark looked to boot out of defence
Beaumont was racing through. His charge down was brave, his collection of the
bouncing ball skilful and dive across the line set minds racing to last years
twenty all draw.
Finishing the stronger
Mansfield again found themselves facing fourteen men and used the extra man to
sweep the ball down to three quarters to Bacon and a right wing try. One more
minute remained as Mansfield collected the ball but despite every effort to keep
the ball alive and turn the match on its head it was not to be. Vital points had
been given to Newark who drew level though with an inferior points difference.
Two points now cover the bottom five and the chance to head those five
relegation candidates lost.
Another local derby and another vital
game for the Blue and Whites as they travel to fellow strugglers Paviors this
week. They travel to Burnt Stump where a repeat of last season’s 19-15 win would
be most acceptable. Earlier this season they went down 41-20 and a big
improvement on that performance will be needed if they are to grab the two
league points and leapfrog their neighbours.
Mansfield II v Newark II - Away
Mansfield second team
travelled to Newark with a changed side yet again and came foul by a 57-13
margin. Mansfield chose to field a more experienced front eight which seemed to
pay off as early on as they dealt with everything that the Newark pack threw at
them but within fifteen minutes of the kick off Mansfield were having to re
shuffle after loosing Flyhalf N. Williams. Newark opened the scoring with a try
but Mansfield replied straight after with a deserved penalty. Strong tackling
from Radford in the centre kept Newark at bay for long periods but as the game
progressed Mansfield’s injury list started to grow with Radford having to leave
the field followed shortly by Hooper. Even though the score line doesn’t reflect
it Mansfield will take a lot from this game with all players showing more
commitment and desire compared to their previous game.
Mansfield III v Meden Vale II – Away
Taking to the field for
the first time in 3 weeks the young flying back division of Mansfield proved too
much for an experienced and committed Meden Vale 2nd team taking the win 48-12
away from home. Running in 8 tries between them, the energetic youngsters cut
the Vale defence to pieces with some, at times, magic handling and fine
interchanges, but the Mansfield forwards found it tough against the veteran Vale
pack and conceded too much turnover ball. A fine team performance throughout
brought scores for S. Middleton, L. Oakden (2), R. Poulter (2 ), P. Gundle (1),
D. Chapman (1), A. Broadhurst (1) & 3 consversions and 1 conversion for S
Stevenson.
Mansfield IV v Worksop II – Home
Mansfield 4ths played host
to Worksop 2nds in the NLD Pennant this week and came away with all the points
winning 53-0. Mansfield’s pack started the game fireing on all cylinders
dominating all the set plays but Worksop defended their line manfully. After 20
minutes Mansfield finally broke through, not suprisingly with their pack, after
a strong driving scrummage Berryman broke from No.8 to power over the line
taking 2 tacklers with him. Berryman added another try 5 minutes later to take
Mansfied in to half time 10-0 to the good. The 2nd half went very much like the
1st but now Mansfield’s backs joined the party with strong runs and good support
play. Eventually the dogged Worksop deffence broke down and Mansfield started
scoring freely. Mansfield’s man of the match Berryman added his 3rd try before
Hughes and Payne added 2 each with Maddocks and M. Smith also getting on the
score sheet.Ppayne added 4 conversions to make the final score 53-0.
JUNIOR RESULTS
Mansfield Colts v Market Rasen Colts – Home
Mansfield Colts returned
to action on Sunday after a 4-week lay off with an impressive 42-0 league win
over Market Rasen. The home side dominated play from the start and opened the
scoring after 2 minutes with a try from Fly Half Jonno Williams who collected
the ball 20 metres out and ran in to score. The lead was doubled on 8 minutes
when Open Side Flanker Phil Donaldson finished off a fine team move with a try
under the posts. Mansfield continued to press but were prevented from extending
their lead by a superb defensive effort by the visitors who showed great spirit
and never let heads drop. The lead was further extended before half time thanks
to a brace of tries from stand in Centre Tom Calladine, the second a superb
individual effort after the forwards had taken play deep inside the Market Rasen
territory. With the half time score at 28-0 the second period continued in very
much the same way as the first and the lead was further extended after 5 minutes
when Prop Preston Young crashed through from 15 metres out to score his first
try for the Colts. Mansfield coaches then made a number of changes to give the
squad a run out and this seemed to temporarily affect the flow of the game but
normal service was resumed after 20 minutes when Outside Centre Alan Symcox ran
in to score. Fly Half Jonno Williams added the conversion to complete an
outstanding kicking performance with 6 out 6 successful kicks on the day to make
the final score 42-0.
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COURTESY OF RUGBY ROUND-UP
