Mansfield back on track
MIDLANDS 3 EAST (NORTH)
MANSFIELD 44 SLEAFORD 5
After two weekends where Mansfield’s momentum was called into question and stuttering start to this game the Blue and Whites clicked into gear running in eight tries in an impressive win. That combined with a surprise defeat for second placed Coalville caused Coach Steve Smith to comment ‘that’s my Christmas presents come early. We had two exciting young debutantes explode into action, the side looked sharper and now have a three point gap at the top of the table.’
A strong wind, which negated both sides line out drills, was marginally in Mansfield’s favour as Sleaford kicked off to Pritchard who made a break before debutante Elms cleverly chipped deep into the Sleaford half. Despite Hooper stealing ball and Wilson and Jones linking it was fly half Elms with astute use of the boot moving the visitors round the park. Holmes and Hooper showed deft handiwork to open up the defence but a forward pass brought a promising move to a halt. The same fate befell an opening for Storey after work from Robinson and Jones.
Shaw wrestled ball from the number eight as Sleaford attempted a back row move, Storey closed down a blindside move and Newton and Pritchard were impassable in the centre of the defence. Sustained Sleaford pressure was held and their frustration ended with a penalty. That was cleared up field and Newton secured the line out throw from Kirk and the forwards drove forward. Holmes and Hooper again combined to break the gain line and Mansfield opened up their three quarters. As the ball went wide Wilson broke through two tackles before releasing Mansfield’s other debutante, Boler, who showed blistering acceleration to cross for the opening try on twenty minutes.
Mansfield looked to keep up their momentum and another Elms highball saw Storey in pursuit forcing a line out. From the scrum Holmes and Shaw combined but when the pack drove to the line they were frustrated by players lying on the wrong side and Drury in attempting to clear a path for the try was pulled up by the referee for ten minutes in the sin bin.Far from allowing the loss of a man to hold them back those ten minutes saw fifteen points added. The clearing penalty set up a Sleaford line out but Hooper stole and Mansfield charged. From centre field Wilson switched direction, Robinson moved play on and fed Storey who powered over.
The restart was drilled back into the visitors 22 and Kirk picked out Hooper in the line where Holmes darted round the front of the line for try number three.Varying the tactics Pritchard caught and launched Mansfield forward, Shaw made a break and once again the stranded full back found Storey in close attention forcing yet another Mansfield line out.The driving of Spencer and Newton took the Blue and Whites close, Simmons appeared for scrum duties and from the Mansfield shove Jones was held a metre out. One more scrum and the retreating Sleaford penalised, Shaw took the quick tap penalty and Holmes did the rest.
Back to a full fifteen and in full flow Mansfield rounded off the half in style. Wilson, sharp and incisive turned the visitors defence, Drury brought the ball clear supported by Kirk and Newton before the ball was spun to the wing. Thirty metres out there was still work to be done but Boler had speed, strength and guile to round the defence. The conversion from Elms cannoned back off the post confusing the touch judges but the two debutants and Holmes had done enough in the first half to convince the sponsor J S Pneumatics there would be a three-way tie for Man of the Match.
Turning into the wind with a 27-0 lead Mansfield knew they would have defending to do. Drury and Shaw put in big tackles to hold the assault and Holmes, Jones and Wilson kept ball in hand to create attacking options. Another quick tap penalty had Wilson, Hooper, Grant and Storey linking as forwards and back interchanged positions to move the play round the park.
Simmons, re-emerging from the bench as Sleaford grabbed a consolation try, was quick to show his keenness to run at the opposition. Chasing an Elms chip Jones and Hooper set play up for Robinson. He used Storey twice in a move going right before Wilson switched left with Jones who gave Boler the opening to complete his hat trick. Within two minutes the lead was stretched further. Pritchard again led the way from the kick off and the Mansfield pack surged on. Shaw behind the forwards went blindside and popped the ball in the path of Wilson who needed no second invitation to beat the defence and ground behind the posts.
With the game secure at 39-5 Mansfield’s players took the chance to show their party tricks to their sponsors. Robinson and Rushby ran from deep, when Sleaford did gain ball Simmons was there to steal and the pack were providing a steady stream of possession. A rare incursion by the visitors to the Mansfield 22 was snuffed out and Elms on the counter dissected the three quarters creating an overlap for Wilson. His 70-metre dash left Sleaford trailing with only try hungry Mansfield colleagues in attendance.
A jinking run from Rushby, Newton just short of the line, Hooper again lively and Grant steeping in at hooker taking ball against the heel. Despite much enterprise the final ten minutes failed to add to the points for, but the news from Ilkeston that the gap at the top was now three points more than compensated and the chance of promotion was firmly in Mansfield’s hands as the season reached its mid point.
This Saturday attention turns to the NLD Cup and local rivals Paviors make the trip to Eakring Road and a 2 p.m. kick off to accommodate the possibility of extra time. The Burnt Stump men began the season in fine form but like Mansfield, they have slipped up in recent weeks. A heavy defeat at Kettering last Saturday will see them looking on this match as a chance for a morale boost against a side they saw relegated behind them last season.
