SENIOR RESULTS
Defeat for Mansfield in cliffhanger.
Midlands 2 East
ILKESTON 24 MANSFIELD 19
A vital match at the foot of the table and vital points squandered as Mansfield, despite a 19-11 lead at the interval, failed to add any more points and slid to a five point defeat. That blank second half was not without controversy as the tally of nine persistent identical offences of pulling down near the Ilkeston line failed to result in a penalty try and seven times in the afternoon Mansfield crossed the home line but were unable to convince the referee they had safely grounded the ball.
The frustration for the Mansfield players, staff and supporters was that despite the effort to make the chances they failed to finish them off. Indeed it was a case of errors making the task all the more difficult. That started with the Blue and Whites being penalised for being in front of Jones as he took the kick off. Taking advantage of the scrum Ilkeston looked to be headed for a try in the corner before Waggstaff, in the side at full back, pulled off the vital tackle. Despite Lindsay cleaning up the line ball Mansfield failed to lift the siege and on three minutes conceded a penalty and a 3-0 lead.
With nerves evident the slip ups continued but this time in Mansfield’s favour. A long restart was not tidied by the Elks and Mansfield gained a line out on the home 22. Again Lindsay was the recipient of Kirk’s pinpoint throw and the Mansfield forward trundled for the line with Drury, Grant and Stringfellow taking the play forward. The final thrust for the line saw Holmes gleefully claiming his try and with a Wagstaff conversion Mansfield had swung the game 7-3 in their favour within two minutes.
The chapter of errors was far from over. Mansfield hesitated under the kick off and having given away a line out on the left saw the ball spun wide to the right for a try in the corner. No conversion but a single point advantage back with the home side.
Again Mansfield looked to drive forward and work from Richard Newton allowed Smedley to bring the backs into play. Arnold made ground but as the move broke down a hack up field saw a race, narrowly won by Wills, who cleared his lines. Ilkeston were still in striking distance and having met stout resistance in a midfield of Holmes, Taylor and Jones took the chance to land a drop goal and stretch to 11-7 at the end of a hectic fifteen minutes.
Mansfield had a forward pass to thank for not falling further behind but the second quarter signalled Mansfield turning the screw with forward dominance. Waggstaff cleared the defence with a long raking kick and with a line out fifteen metres out Kirk had his pack on the move and Richard Newton plunging over for Mansfield’s second try.
Continuing to attack brother Tom Newton found a gap after Smedley and Arnold went close to opening up the home defence. The next attack saw Smedley and Jones interchange passes before Arnold dived for the corner but the ball eluded his grasp while in mid air.
Again Mansfield took the play to the Elks and after scrum problems saw them concede a penalty Mansfield drove across the line for the first of those inconclusive pile ups. Remaining encamped more five yard scrums saw do or die defence and a yellow card for Ilkeston before Kirk did make the touch down and Waggstaff’s second successful conversion. A 19-11 half time lead but it was to prove to be no platform for victory.
Despite running the kick off back Mansfield saw ball turned over and an immediate penalty to bring the lead down to five points. Another penalty within two minutes slid past the posts but Ilkeston kept the pressure and a third offence left the sides a 17-19 with 30 pulsating minutes to be played out.
The restart saw Stringfellow recover the kick and on the end of Lindsay’s service Mansfield add to the excursions across the home line that failed to bring points. Hadley replaced Grant for his debut in a Mansfield shirt and twice linked as the ball carrier. Mansfield were providing all the pressure but Ilkeston’s flying backs just needed half a chance to turn the game and that came on the hour.
From being camped on the opposition line play was swiftly moved to the Mansfield 22. Knocking on twice at the line out and a well angled run created space in the centre, one missed tackle and Ilkeston were celebrating a try under the posts.
Shaw joined the fray with half breaks from the base of the scrum and Hooper, back from injury moved Mansfield 15 metres. Continually the forward effort was thwarted and a stream of penalties and five metre lineout options could not bring the points for victory. Grubb made it to the corner with his tackler but took the corner flag with him before grounding. Two runs from Arnold made ground but not the space for Mansfield to capitalise and time ran out with Ilkeston hauling themselves up the table above Mansfield on points difference.
Saturday sees the arrival of Kettering at Eakring Road for a 2.15 kick off. The Northamptonshire side were one of the pre-season favourites for promotion but have had a chequered run this season, losing three games and winning five including a 44-24 home win over Northampton Old Scouts last weekend. Their last two visits saw a win apiece and Mansfield will be desperate to make it their turn this time round.
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