Six of the best – twice
MIDLANDS 3 EAST (NORTH)
MANSFIELD 78 WEST BRIDGFORD 10
Mansfield handed out a lesson in finishing to newly promoted West Bridgford on Saturday. The Nottingham side took a canning as the home side clicked into gear, dishing out six of the best in each half.
Kicking off into the wind the Blue and Whites were out of the traps quickly, recovering the hanging ball and launching runs from Colley and Jones. A fumbled ball gave opportunity for the visitors to build an attack but Man of the Match Drury, for the first of several occasions through the afternoon, emerged with the ball and again Colley was off on a weaving run. Driving through the forwards with Roberts and Kirk to the fore defence was being severely stretched and even the award of a scrum gave no respite. Their retreating scrum twice went back and Davies capitalised on loose ball before wriggling clear, feeding Brown who ensured the passage to line was open for Tom Newton to cross in the ninth minute. Symcox was steady and secure with the conversion for the first of his eighteen points of the afternoon.
Keen to keep the pressure on Holmes was next to drive through the opposition. Finding Roberts on his shoulder another incisive attack was launched and after Davies sent Wills, Brown and Wilson down the left wing before Wilson was forced a 5 metre line out. Their move to the line was held at the expense of a penalty where Mansfield opted to scrummage. Jones went to the line but was held up before a repeat scrum move with quick ball saw Wilson crossing by the posts for the first of his four tries of the game.
Fourteen points in as many minutes had the home support purring and it was nineteen in twenty as again Davies collected the opponents’ heel. Colley was on the end of a slick three quarter move taking play to the line and when West scrambled the ball clear to fifteen metres Stringfellow met Kirk’s throw, enjoyed the support of his pack and dropped for try number three.
The big second row was first to the restart kick and a rampant Mansfield poured forward. Brown ran through traffic from 22 to 22 before an over anxious fumble saw ball spilled with an overlap created. Another burst that saw Holmes cover twenty metres through the cover defence set up Roberts who simply wasn’t going to be prevented from claiming his first try. Symcox stroked the conversion over and was repeating the act two minutes later.
Again Stringfellow caught and ran, Tom Newton accelerated past two men and popped a pass to Wilson who needed no more invitation to run in under the posts. Spencer decided he too could field the kick off and break into the visitor’s half before Davies linked with Wills who used the wind to flight the ball tantalisingly up the corner. Symcox and Wilson raced up to force a line out and after Tom Newton had tidied at the back of the line, with Grant, Drury and Spencer on the charge West Bridgford were guilty of pulling down. Roberts took a quick tap and go and Wills profited from the recycled ball for a try.
Thirty one minutes and forty points on the board Mansfield looked for more but the never say die tackling and persistent defence of West Bridgford held out despite a thrust from Davies and Symcox, Spencer run and Brown just beaten to a touch down from a cross field ball.
Any hope that Mansfield might rest on the laurels was dispelled within five minutes of the second period. Again Spencer began with a catch and instant attack. A five-metre line was forced and Roberts drove over for his second try of the afternoon. More line out possession allowed Mansfield to tie in their opponents and when Wills sent the ball long for Colley the wing man drew the last line and released Wilson for his hat trick try.
Some reward came the way of the battling Bridgford side and twice in four minutes the Blue and Whites were caught out as they shuffled their line up. Neither try was converted and the third quarter saw Mansfield back across the try line after Drury and Roberts wrestled ball away for a line out and Wills collected on half way before arcing round to the posts.
Lindsay carried on the stream of lineout possession and his quick ball off the top gave space for Wills and Jones to set up Wilson who raced clear from 35 metres. With Colts prop Simmons showing he could more than hold his own in Senior company his tackle provided loose ball that Jones was happy to exploit through Drury and Spencer before Roberts laid ball back and replacement Richard Newton added the earlier try of his brother.
Despite playing out the last ten minutes with fourteen men Mansfield added that try and a final hat trick flourish from Roberts after Spencer caught and Simmons carried ball clear.
The final whistle brought an end before Mansfield could match their point a minute performance of the first half. West Bridgford have had a baptism of fire with two former League Two teams in the opening fortnight but their spirit battled through to the end. For Mansfield the Coaches were pleased to see some of the preseason work click into place, but still identified areas to sharpen up on. ‘We wanted to get off to a bright start to the season. Not many sides will come away from Coalville with a win and today’s score will send out a clear message that we have added a cutting edge’ commented Coach Steve Shaw, ‘Six tries in each half is a great performance.
The message for Mansfield supporters is clear, 165 points in their opening two games, early tries and plenty to entertain, follow the Blue and Whites and get there early. This weekend they make a short trip to Nottingham Moderns at Wilford then back to Eakring Road on September 29 th when Lincoln are the visitors.
