Match Reports Wk09
Mansfield Colts - 34 v Ashfield Colts – 0
Mansfield Colts travelled to local rivals Ashfield on Sunday morning with the blue and whites taking the spoils by 34-0, their third clean sheet in as many weeks. Try scorers for Mansfield were Michael Weston, Matt Broughton, Tommy Blythe, Jordan Bailey, Sean Symcox and Aiden McGregor. Jordan Bailey added two conversions to complete the scoring.
Lutterworth U17 - 20 v Mansfield U17 - 23
Mansfield U17's progressed to the last 16 of the National Cup when they secured a hard fought 23-20 victory against the Leicestershire Champions Lutterworth. Travelling deep into Leicestershire to play on the opposition turf, Mansfield knew they would have to be at their best to beat one of the most accomplished sides in the Midlands. Playing with a cross wind, slightly in their favour, they put the home team under pressure from the start and on two minutes were awarded a penalty, which Ross Elms converted to give the blues and whites an early lead. This was short lived as Lutterworth came back strong making a break into the visitors 22 and won a penalty in front of the posts, as Mansfield went over the top. This was easily knocked over and the game was all square at 3-3. Mansfield using the wind to their advantage pinned the home team into their own 22 but, strong Lutterworth defence held out a number of Mansfield attacks. Despite territorial advantage Mansfield only had a missed penalty to show for this; before the home side made a lovely break down the wing, with only a foot in touch preventing the score. However, they secured the ball at the resulting line-out on 5m and played the ball down the line to score near the posts. This was converted to give the home team a 10-3 advantage. Mansfield fought back securing a penalty in front of the posts to give Elms an easy three points to reduce the deficit to10-6. Further pressure resulted in a scrum on the 22 which Joseph Symcox picked up at No.8, played it wide to Adam Shaw who drew his man before laying it off to Jonathan Cordin for a finish in the corner. The difficult conversion went wide to leave Mansfield with a narrow 10-11 lead. Lutterworth came back at the visitors and just before half time they won the ball at a scrum released their back line and an excellent dummy by the centre created the space for a score under the posts. The conversion gave Lutterworth a 17-11 half time lead. Mansfield went straight onto the attack from the re-start, secured loose ball before releasing Symcox to sprint down the wing and score in the corner. The difficult kick went narrowly wide and left the blue and whites trailing by one point 17-16. A period of sustained Lutterworth pressure followed, as they tried to use the conditions to their advantage but, strong Mansfield defence prevented them from going over. A penalty for holding on however, allowed them to extend their lead to 20-16. This spurred the visitors into action and a number of breaks looked promising before Cordin was able to sprint from within his own half, drawing the last two defenders before off loading over arm to Jonathan Fox, who ran an excellent line to score between the posts. Elms made no mistake with the easy conversion to take Mansfield into a 20-23 lead. Lutterworth tried to respond but, a resilient defence held firm until a penalty was kicked into touch to signify an end of the very enjoyable game of rugby played by two very good sides.
