Mansfield top of tree at Christmas
MIDLANDS 3 EAST (NORTH)
LINCOLN 13 MANSFIELD 17
As the referees whistle brought five minutes of stoppage time to a close Mansfield's players whooped with delight and punched the air. No this was not the side celebrating the much-predicted win and clinching promotion, far from it. This was a side who had survived the closest attempt on their unbeaten record since the draw at Loughborough and relive that despite a poor, disjointed performance they had come away with a win.
With six changes to the previous week's squad there was an experimental look to Mansfield against a Lincoln side with two wins and a narrow four point loss to second placed Spalding as evidence of their turn round in form since Christmas. The warning bells rang early. Pritchard and Davies fielded Lincoln's kick off and Wills seemed to have cleared their lines for a line out deep in the home half. However, quick ball off the top of the line out, decisive handling down the back line and three missed tackles presented the right winger with a try in the corner. One minute on the clock and five points adrift.
The restart did present Mansfield with a line out fielded by Taylor who released Ashley and Bacon to test the heart of the defence. Two scrums came Mansfield's way and after Ashley and Holmes picked up props Coleman and Simmons made space for a Storey run and for Wills to peg Lincoln back into the 22. The pressure came to nothing as Mansfield first fumbled ball in contact and then, as to prove a telling problem on the afternoon saw Lincoln's line out jumpers stealing Mansfield's put in.
As the home side hacked long to turn the Mansfield defence Davies and Robinson drilled kicks back up field. Wills broke through and Pritchard and Pogmore, lively round the park, looked to have opened up the defence only for the Mansfield to transgress in the ruck. Rushby twice burst into the line and added a chip to put Mansfield within eight metres and it looked like a score was imminent.
It was not to be as fumbles and lost line out allowed Lincoln to clear their lines. Mansfield had to work hard to contain the occasional breaks as they continued to dominate territory and possession. Bacon and Kirk snuffed out one promising attack and Newton had to show his turn of speed to ensure the half time score was just five points to nil.
After a half time team talk to spur Mansfield to better things the start of the second period could not have begun in worse fashion. The kick off failed to clear tem metres. Lincoln used their scrum ball to kick long and the Mansfield defence failed to realise the kick had brushed a Blue and White jersey in flight. As they touched down and moved away for a 22 drop out realisation struck and Lincoln had a five-metre scrum. With secure ball the drive to the line was only held up momentarily and Mansfield fell ten points behind.
Worse still in the drive winger Storey damaged an elbow and Blythe came on joining Karl Robinson as Mansfield's second replacement. The crowd could see a shock on the cards but Mansfield dug deep and turned in fifteen minutes of rugby more akin to their style this season. The influence of the Mansfield front row was evident as fist the Lincoln scrum went round then were pushed off their put in twice. Quick ball found Davies wide of his back row and after a link with Bacon and Wills Leighton Kirk was accelerating away for the first of two tries in three minutes.
His second came as Newton collected the restart, Wills moved play deep in the Lincoln half and the chasing Blythe and Bacon forced a scrum to Mansfield. Again the ball moved quickly as Ashley moved off the back row, Wayne Robinson made the extra man in the line and Mansfield's young winger was finishing in style again.
Mansfield looked to turn the screw as Ashley went to the heart of the defence and straight through. A fifty-yard run with support arriving would have brought a spectacular score but the final pass was adjudged forward and Mansfield were thwarted. It was, however, only temporary. Again the Lincoln scrum was disrupted and Holmes and Davies stole the ball and Mansfield drove to the line. Unable to award a try the referee indicated a five metre scrum to Mansfield, that proved solid and Wills ghosted down the blindside for the third try. Robinson's conversion sailed through the points and Mansfield found themselves 17-10 in front.
That should have been enough of a platform for the Blue and Whites to pull clear. However, mistakes mode took over again and the final quarter saw them concede one penalty score and being hard pressed in defence. Richard Newton brought fresh tackling power off the bench and despite going down to fourteen men after a yellow card for Bacon Mansfield held the opposition and looked to have secure the game with the award of a line out on half way.
The referee called for the final move of the game and as Mansfield secured the ball it was expected to see it bundled into touch. However, instead Lincoln rescued a long kick towards the corner and the Blue and Whites had more work to do. Three tap penalties were defended and the final whistle saw the surge of relief on both sides of the touchline. Forwards Coach Keith Calladine lifted the somewhat dispirited players, ‘Custard is Custard' he roared, a win is a win and Mansfield are two nervous points closer to that promotion dream.
More changes are in place and a more familiar line out will take to the field at Kelham Road tonight, Wednesday 20 th . February, for their Three Counties Cup Semi Final. The added spice of a local derby will add flavour to the evening and ensure plenty of heat whatever the meteorological conditions. This fixture means the side have a weekend off before returning to Eakring Road for the visit of Moderns on March 1 st .
