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Double Success for Colts
Mansfield Colts celebrated an unprecedented double with a May Day County Cup victory over Paviors to add to the Three Counties Title they had won the previous Sunday with victory over Newark.
The Blue and Whites went into Thursday’s game minus three of the starting fifteen from the Three Counties victory, captain Michael Lowery and Aiden McGregor both injured in the NLD final and Tom Calladine through representative call up. The fact they were able to field a side as strong as they did was testament to the quality of the squad.
Mansfield didn’t have it all their own way; Paviors successfully defended the opening exchanges not allowing Mansfield to establish a rhythm despite dominating territory and possession. Mansfield finally got the scoreboard moving on 20 minutes when centre Alan Symcox touched down under the posts after the forwards had won the ball out wide.
Mansfield were now dominant and a second score soon followed. Paviors secured the ball from a line out on their own 22 only for the ball to ripped by the outstanding Danny Ellis who charged up into midfield. Quick hands down the back line, Jordan Bailey, Symcox, Jonno Williams and finally flying wing Andy Zacharia to score out wide.
Symcox added his second and the side’s third try together with a successful conversion from Bailey made the half time score 17-0 and the Blue and Whites seemingly in control.
Mansfield failed to capitalise and the second period was to be a different story, a rejuvenated Paviors and Mansfield struggling with the demands of two finals in five days. And things were about to get worse, the influential Symcox on his way to hospital with a dislocated elbow and a harsh yellow card for Full Back Alex Miles. Paviors took full advantage and were soon back to 17-10 with 15 minutes to go.
Restored to a full compliment the Blue and Whites re-grouped and took the game back to Paviors. Superb vision from replacement scrum half Adam Shaw kicking the ball behind a retreating defence who could only concede a five metre scrum. Possession secured, the ball was released to the backs and eventually to Joe Symcox, now covering injured brother Alan at outside centre, who was unstoppable from 10 metres out. Bailey added the conversion to make it 24-10.
The last word went to Paviors who scored almost directly from the re-start but time was running out and the rest of the game was played out in Paviors territory, before captain for the day Jonno Williams gratefully kick the ball dead to end the game. Final score 24-15 to the Blue and whites and the double was won.
The victory was a personal success for Colts Head Coach John Tasker who had already achieved the same double as 1st XV Head Coach in 2001, repeating the achievement with the Colts in 2008.
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