Mansfield Approach the Final Hurdle
Sleaford 8 Mansfield 29
Report by Andy Foster
Having overcome Sleaford for the second time this season Mansfield retain their standing of being unbeaten in the league campaign and just one more game at home against Loughborough next week awaits. A win will ensure a club record for the blue and whites as they have never gone an entire league season unbeaten before.
A wet and windy afternoon didn't help matters as the game unfolded, despite the fact that it started in the most positive of ways. With just one minute on the clock, an Ash Wills chip ahead saw Jonathan Colley gather the ball and go over in the corner for a 5 nil lead and a good start.
It's fair to say that what followed for the next half an hour didn't really live up to the early promise. After a lengthy period of inertia, it was suggested to the groundsman that he may as well cordon off each 22 on the basis that neither side had hardly ventured into either one, with most of the game being played in and around the half way and 10 metre lines (a literal man by nature, he sensibly refused, claiming it would be hazardous to do so and that things would no doubt improve).
Some of the stalemate was down to the fact that although the visiting side had physically got off the bus, clearly spiritually, they were still on it. However, a good deal of it was also due to Sleaford's impressive and robust defence, which never really allowed Mansfield to gather any real momentum. Although through no lack of effort and endeavour, this, combined with a number of basic handling errors and losing the ball in contact by both sides, made for a scrappy encounter at times. A rare visit to the opposition's ‘red zone' resulted in a penalty for the hosts narrowing the gap to 2 points.
The highlight of this period for Mansfield was a majestic run upfield by Wills and a bruising forward drive that resulted in a 20 metre gain, which looked like the visitors were starting to achieve a little cohesion as the battle for territory and possession continued. However, the highlight of this period for the home side was that they scored a try to take the lead 8-5! It came from Sleaford's workhorse pack who continued to harass and assail their opposite eight. They then secured their lineout ball, which was quickly recycled twice for a final pass to see their Centre cross the line gratefully without a North Nottinghamshire glove being laid on him. The result was a deserved half time lead for the home side's labours.
This clearly stung Mansfield into action and they started the second stanza by exerting huge pressure on the Sleaford pack and the question for the Ruskington Road faithful was how long could their team maintain the vigorous defence of their lead? A glimpse into the Coach's crystal ball would have revealed that the answer was exactly 12 minutes. Despite their vivacity and a brave attempt to quell the forward pressure, Sleaford finally cracked and another strength sapping forward surge ended with the evergreen Richard Newton crashing over for the try with Robinson adding the extras.
With the score at 12-8 to the visitors and collectively Mansfield displaying a little more brio, it appeared that the metaphoric mind had finally got off the bus and joined the body on the field of play. However, Sleaford were certainly not going quietly into the night and completely unfazed by their opponent's status as league champions elect, they still they threw attack after attack at the visiting side.
Mansfield defended superbly during this period as the arm wrestle for possession continued. Indeed, as the home side were mounting yet another sortie into Mansfield's 22 the ball was turned over and in the spirit of innovation Mansfield immediately transferred the ball through several pairs of hands gaining 20 metres upfield, which only left another 50 metres for Wills to have to cover on his own in order to breach the white line – this he did, outstripping the defence and providing Robinson the opportunity to enhance the score by two points and give Mansfield a 19-8 lead entering the final quarter.
It was another 5 minutes before Sleaford let the ball go as their cussed forward pack rumbled on resolutely and combined with some determined running from their outfield backs proved they still had the fight in them. However, it was during one such attack again that the home side's centre attempted to chip the defence only to see the kick charged down for Jonathan ‘Gringo' Wilson to gather and race 50 metres to the line sporting a moustache that would have undoubtedly seen Sergio Leone cast him as an extra in ‘The Good, The Bad & The Ugly'.
With 15 minutes to go and the score at 24-8 to the visitors you could be forgiven for thinking that this profligacy was going to cause the floodgates to open – not so, as Sleaford had other ideas and it's a credit to them that they still had the temerity to rally and remain determined to make it as difficult as they could for the league leaders. This defiance was perfectly illustrated when a trademark 50 metre dash by Storey out of his 22 was halted by some excellent cover tackling resulting in a turnover ball and the attack repelled.
However, it was indeed Mansfield who deservedly had the last word in a game that saw mid-table Sleaford defend gallantly for long periods and the league leaders justify their ranking by taking every shred of opportunity that came their way. This was typified by the final score in the 77 th minute, which saw the industrious work of the timeless Terry Davies supported by his forwards who released Wills stepping inside his man to put ‘Gringo' Wilson away for his second try of the half leaving the scoreboard to declare a 29-8 victory for Mansfield and prove the groundsman right
The final hurdle beckons for Mansfield as they take on Loughborough next week at Eakring Road in the last league game of the season. Win, lose or draw, it promises to be an exciting end to the campaign as Mansfield will officially be crowned league champions and look forward to regaining their place in Midlands Division Two next season. The occasion will also see Alan Shaw officially appointed as the club's new Honorary President before the game and local Skiffle band Kick N' Rush provide the after match entertainment – the serious stuff starts at 3pm and then the fun stuff starts 4.30pm.
