SENIOR RESULTS
Mid match
errors leave Mansfield slipping
Midlands 2 East
OLD
NORTHAMPTONIANS 40 MANSFIELD 23
Sherlock
Holmes once had to solve the mystery of the dog that didn’t bark. Mansfield
Coach Steve Shaw will spend this week trying to find the solution to the side
that failed to call. In a game which hung in the balance Old Northamptonians
took a kick off, Mansfield stood statuesque, allowed the ball to be collected by
the home side and saw all their hard work undone.
That
heralded a passage of play which resulted in twenty five points conceded before
a late surge. It was enough to see Mansfield come away without league points and
slip back to one of the three relegation places.
The pattern
expected from ON’s emerged in the opening exchanges. Jones returned the kick off
long to touch in the home half. Before Mansfield had closed down a quick line
throw was opening up into cross field three quarter attacks and Coleman and
Holmes being called to make tackles. Lindsay secured line ball on metres to set
Mansfield up with a drive out of their 22 but ball was turned over and a deft
chip to the touch in goal area needed Shaw to be alert.
With a
variety of back row moves testing the Blue and Whites from the set scrums a
break had to come and on eight minutes the home side crossed for the opening
try. It could have been followed rapidly but Rushby showed his strength, Storey
collected and with Symcox in support worked the way up the wing.
Forced onto
the back foot an attacking line was stolen by Taylor for Jones to clear.
Lindsay
again secured Kirk’s throw and with Pritchard powering out from defence play was
moved to half way. Jones took the opportunity to angle a kick towards the
coroner and force a line out. Once again Pritchard was at the centre of the
action and with the whole Mansfield pack moving forward as a unit the scores
were levelled on nineteen minutes.
With a long
return to the restart Mansfield were again left scampering to cover adventurous
quick tap ball. Wills hung on for a much needed tackle and Homes and Pritchard
followed suit to give Shaw the chance to springboard the attack. Following a
penalty just inside the 22 Taylor was the catcher at the line and as Roberts
powered forward another penalty saw Symcox put the Blue and Whites in front.
The lead
lasted five minutes thanks to Lindsay’s defence on the line and the home side
knocking on to scorn a three man overlap. On thirty minutes the damage was done
and try number two saw the lead change hands again. That situation worsened as
Storey had to leave the pitch to have running repairs to an eye problem and with
fourteen men they were outnumbered on the right wing and the score moved on to
15-8 to the home side.
As Beaumont
came on for a blood bin for Lindsay it was Mansfield seizing the quick tap
advantage and Shaw bringing Rushby through the centre supported by another
Symcox, Storey thrust to end the half. Having ended one half on the attack
Mansfield decided to begin the next in similar vein.
Recovering
the kick off with Pritchard and Wills competing in the air Mansfield’s forwards
took control before Rushby, Bacon and Storey opened up the defence. Back in the
hands of the forwards Holmes was plunging over for his second try and Mansfield
sat just two points adrift.
The next
kick was the one that no one in a Blue and White shirt wanted. ON’s did, and a
woeful passage unfolded. Within two minutes a back row move from a scrum had
moved the home team nine points to the good and when the move was repeated eight
minutes later the game was effectively out of Mansfield’s reach.
Wills found
himself forced out after good work from the restart kick and Shaw’s invention
found support from Pritchard and Grant. However, every counter attack spelled
danger and a further try and well set up drop goal saw the lead stretching. Not
for the first time this season adversity brought out Mansfield’s spirit
After a
flare up play was allowed to flow before being brought back and to everyone’s
surprise Grant was yellow carded. He clearly felt it was a case of mistaken
identity but had only just reached the box when Pritchard was being invited to
follow him from the next passage of play. The resulting penalty made the score
40-13 and with ten minutes to go the floodgates appeared to have been opened.
Not so and
those minutes saw ten points for Mansfield. Wills seized on the kick off and
found Beaumont and Shaw ready to move play on. When the ball was spun to the
left wing the unlikely figure of Roberts collected with three men in close
attendance. With a thus far hidden burst of speed and sheer determination he
motored across the line from fifteen metres.
As the
clock ran down Holmes emerged from a pile of bodies on a ball taken in by ON’s.
Again Mansfield were in attendance in numbers and after Wills and Storey found
gaps Bacon raced in for the Blue and White’s fourth try. Coach Steve Shaw will
be looking for the spirit of the final ten minutes to shine through from the
start in the remaining fixtures of the league campaign.
A weekend
free of league or cup commitments but one which Mansfield will be using to hone
their game for the vital relegation games with two of the four fellow strugglers
in the next fortnight. National Division One Nottingham will be sending their
Corsairs side to Eakring Road and will provide meaningful opposition as
Mansfield look to cement positional options and combinations. Kick off at 2.15
will be central to a feast of rugby with coverage of two internationals on the
big screen as well.
Mansfield II v Sheffield Tigers - Home
Mansfield 2nds lost to
Sheffield tigers 55-0 in a very one sided game.
Mansfield’s 2nd team that
has seen virtually a complete change of players from the start of the season due
to injuries and unavailabilities were never in this game and were completely out
played by a strong Sheffield side. After only ten minutes Young was replaced by
Pogmore because of a re-occurring calf injury, and soon to follow was Haynes
after a wild kick at a loose ball resulted in a cut to his eye. And from there
on in things just got worse. Mansfield will want to forget this game and look to
next week to try and resolve some of the many problems which were apparent this
week.
Mansfield III – No Game
Mansfield IV – No Game
JUNIOR RESULTS
Mansfield U14 v West Bridgford U14 – Home
This return fixture against
West Bridgford was played in perfect conditions for running rugby and both sides
delivered this, in what was a thoroughly entertaining game, the final score
going Mansfield’s way at 33-7. The visitors started the game well and were on
the offensive through their physical pack. Handling errors in the Mansfield 22
led to a scrum, from which the Bridgford No.8 powered over to open the scoring.
Finding themselves 7 – 0 down inside 5 mins spurred the home side on, and they
began to take control of the game. Both sides showed they were capable of great
handling, but the pace and fitness of the home side was the key. Once Mansfield
gained the upper hand in the tight, the distribution play of Nick Burton and
powerful running from the backs began to break down the Bridgford defence. Tries
for Mansfield came from James Ford, Bradley Eames, Morgan Eames, Jack Mitchell,
and Tom Lowery. Adam Newton and Sam Butler both adding conversions. Man of the
match for a tireless performance was Ben Palmer.
CLICK FOR ALL THE OTHER MIDLANDS 2 EAST RESULTS,
COURTESY OF RUGBY ROUND-UP
