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Mansfield start out on trek to Twickenham
EDF SENIOR VASE ROUND THREE
STOKE on TRENT 18 MANSFIELD 6
Any ideas of cup hunting at Twickenham in the spring ended up smashed and broken in the Potteries on Saturday. Mansfield lacked the lustre and finishing of their season so far and despite dominating the majority of the game found themselves on the wrong end of what appears a comfortable result. Yet at the final whistle it was elation ofr a Stoke side who could not believe they had eased the Blue and Whites out of the competition.
The early signs gave no hint of the defeat that was to follow. Mansfield’s kick off was tapped back by Holmes in the midst of the home defenders and Drury and Hooper drove into the 22. Wilson looked to create an opening and Mansfield had an early penalty. Robinson stepped up to stroke the ball between the posts and push his side in front.
Pritchard was under the restart and with the support of Grant created space for Davies to push Mansfield deep into the opposition half. Wills probed with deft chips over and through the first line of defence but a scrambling Stoke defence just managed to keep their line intact.
Spencer harvested Kirk’s accurate line out ball and Davies again released Wills who burst into the 22 but was closed down before he could feed Colley on the wing. The line out variations saw Newton and Hooper, who was developing his game into the Man of the Match performance, giving steady supply to the backs but in the heavy conditions play lacked the zip and speed that has been the sides hallmark.
Holmes made vital metres with Drury supporting and benefited from a Kirk strike against the head to develop a back row move. Mansfield failed to capitalise on another penalty before working their way down the touchline through Newton and Grant. When play moved infield Kirk had good support through Hooper and Pritchard and Robinson was stepping up to kick a second Mansfield penalty.
The six-point lead was short lived and the first quarter ended with a decision against Mansfield gaining the advantage of another ten metres as discipline slipped and an easy three points. That raised the tempo but Robinson safe and secure under the high ball was looking to form a platform, linking with Jones and Wilson on return runs. Persistent killing of the ball cost Stoke their skipper for ten minutes but Mansfield failed to take advantage.
Wilson chased through to within five metres but the support was late getting to him and the home side cleared. Mansfield once again drove the home forwards off their put in but the pass that would have sent Colley in at the corner was marginally forward and on the other wing Williams had to snuff out an attack with two tackles in quick succession.
The second half began with Mansfield again looking promising, but without any incisive play to clock up much needed points. Hooper, Spencer and Wills ran out of space, Wilson found one defender too many in his path and despite Robinson and Davies working an interchange of passes Mansfield were creating little in the opposition 22.
The tension was certainly rising as Stoke, who saw themselves as under dogs despite home advantage, began to believe they could grab the spoils.
Going into the final quarter it was Mansfield who suffered the loss of Wilson for ten minutes and unlike their visitors in the first half Stoke took full advantage. Working their penalties to the corner the Pottery side executed the perfect catch and drives from 5 metres and for the first time on the day was in front at 8-6. With Taylor appearing off the bench to join Hooper harrying the home three quarters Mansfield looked to respond. Shaw took over from Davies in an attempt to stretch Stoke wide but couldn’t loosen the grip of the home team.
As the Blue and Whites tried to open play up Stoke delivered two killer blows with tries wide out in the corner in the last three minutes to add their gloss to the scoreboard. In truth the contest should have been decided well before then but too many wrong option and inconsistent kicking meant that Stoke were still in the game for those later stages.
‘We simply had too many players who had sub standard performances on the same day’ observed Coach Steve Shaw. ‘There was a lack of intensity and too many wrong options. We were hoping for a good, long run in this competition so its very disappointing.’ The old adage of ‘we are concentrating on the league’ found no favour with the Mansfield management and players but they know they have to put this result behind them and rediscover form and fire before heading to Loughborough this weekend. An immediate response is needed to maintain their two-point advantage over Coalville who are breathing down their necks.
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