SENIOR RESULTS
Cup that cheers
for Mansfield
Nottinghamshire County Cup Quarter Final
WEST BRIDGFORD
12 MANSFIELD 41
Mansfield
stayed on track for a ninth successive County Cup with a morale boosting win
that might just kick start an end of season rally in the league. Seven tries run
in by their young back line to finish off a safe and solid forwards display
showed a freedom and confidence sadly lacking during the league campaign.
It was that
forward effort and good cover defence that was tested from the start as West
Bridgford tried to repeat their cup upset of 1998. On thirteen minutes the home
side cursed their luck as loose ball was tidied in the direction of Wills. He
set off on a run then chipped behind the defence. The ball bounced perfectly
into his arms and blistering pace took him clear and under the posts for Symcox
to add the conversion.
West
Bridgford continued to take the game to Mansfield and benefited as attempts to
open the game out floundered on handling mistakes. On the half hour Mansfield
released a drive with Storey out wide on the end of it and created the 12-0 half
time lead.
Looking to
build on their advantage Mansfield wasted no time in developing quick ball for
their backs and five minutes into the second period Wills was adding his second
try, with more to come. A debut try from Andreas Zacharia, a name for the
future, was converted by Symcox to take the score to 24-0.
Lee Shaw
darted away from the base of a scrum to stretch the Blue and Whites’ lead before
the home side crossed for a try to reward their efforts.
That was
the cue for Wills to round off his day by completing his hat trick of tries with
Mansfield’s sixth. Attempting to raise the tempo and show some expansive rugby
the ball was kept alive, but an interception punished Mansfield’s spirit of
enterprise with a try under the posts.
In a final
flourish Bridgford found themselves under pressure and Symcox collected after a
charging down the ball but his conversion sailed wide to leave the final score
41-12. A lot to work on but a big boost for morale and Mansfield’s policy of
bringing on their youth, with seven tries and an average age of under 21 for the
scorers. Their reward is a plum home semi final against the winner of Newark and
Paviors who play in a fortnight.
This Saturday sees the side
return to Eakring Road for a 3 p.m. kick off against Derby in the League.
Results on Saturday changed the complexion of this game with Mansfield’s plight
worsened as Northampton Old Scouts shocked Kettering 17-15 to pull further away
at the bottom and Derby slipped up at Hinckley, going down 26-18. That leaves
both sides desperate for the points this weekend. Two successive defeats have
seen Derby slip out of the play off spot with little time to overhaul Matlock,
as both have to play top of the table Students. For Mansfield it is simpler, at
least five if not a maximum six points from the three remaining games are
needed.
Mansfield II v Coalville II - Home
In a finally balanced game
Coalville managed to grab victory 25-27 from Mansfield with a last minute try
and conversion. Mansfield started the better of the two sides spreading the ball
wide at every opportunity, and it was not until L. Garrett crossed the line with
N. Williams converting. Coalville’s young side were quick to respond with a try
within minutes from the restart. Mansfield’s ever present back row continued to
take the game forward causing problems for the opposition which lead to
Mansfield’s next try with A. Hawson breaking through with W. Rushby on hand to
finish off. Williams converted two more penalties before half time. The second
half carried on the same as the first with both sides playing attacking rugby.
Strong running from Harrison, Robinson and Ashley created gaps for Mansfield’s
back division to attack. As the game entered the last five minutes with
Mansfield leading 25-20 coalville managed to break down the blind side and with
a three on two overlap scored under the posts leaving the simplest of
conversions to win the game.
Mansfield III v Ashborne II - Away
Mansfield 3rds travelled
away to Ashborne this weekend only to find the game had to be cancelled due to
an unplayable pitch.
Mansfield IV v No Game
JUNIOR RESULTS
Mansfield Colts v Scunthorpe Colts – Home
With only
the minimum 15 players Mansfield Colts finally kick started 2007 with an
impressive 20-10 win against a strong Scunthorpe side at Eakring Road on Sunday
afternoon. Both teams showed their ambition to play an open, running game from
the outset but solid defensive performances kept the scores level until Inside
Centre Anthony Hawson burst through to score after 18 minutes. The remainder of
the first period was played in much the same way but was marred by a broken
ankle suffered by the Scunthorpe Open Side after 25 minutes. With the half time
score at 5-0, Scunthorpe started the second period the stronger and were
rewarded with a converted try after 10 minutes. A penalty from Lee Shaw shortly
after re-established Mansfield’s slender lead but this was cancelled out almost
immediately when Scunthorpe slotted their own penalty to make the score 10-8.
Mansfield then dominated the rest of the game adding a penalty try after 20
minutes converted by Shaw when Scunthorpe pulled down a Mansfield drive from a
five-metre lineout. No 8 Tom Calladine rounded off a good day for the forwards
finishing of an excellent drive when he crashed over to make the final score
20-10.
Mansfield U13 v East Retford U13 – Away
The U13 outfit beat East Retford away from home
22-5 after several weeks without a game. Mansfield took the game to Retford from
the start with strong running from Joe Needham and Shaun Harrison. Good hands
from the Crosby, Jordan, Evans back line combination soon put in winger Harry
Salmon for a try. It was looking to be a walk over for Mansfield but Retford
were having none of it. Mansfield didn’t quite click as a team in parts of the
game but because they had the stronger side in depth they came away with a good
win which should really have been an emphatic win. This said, Mansfield did ship
the ball around the park well. Great support play from lock and man of the match
Needham saw Mansfield keep possession for long periods where all their points
came from centre play. Rick Evans scoring 2 trys to give him the highest tally
this season so far and Ashley Prehn scoring on the opposite wing to give him his
first score in a Mansfield shirt. Overall a good performance after a long break.
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COURTESY OF RUGBY ROUND-UP
