Records tumble in final flourish.
MIDLANDS 3 EAST (NORTH)
MANSFIELD 40 LOUGHBOROUGH 24
Mansfield rewrote the notes in their history book on Saturday as they completed their most successful season and became one of the few sides in the history of RFU league rugby to top a thousand points scored in twenty-two games. The satisfaction of beating the only club to have taken a point off them in games this campaign was all the more well received after the Leicestershire club had played their part in a sparkling game of rugby and given their all to take the gloss off Mansfield's party day.
From the off Loughborough posted an intent to run the ball through their talented centre combination and Colley and Wilson had to be alert as the Boro ran the ball back from the kick off. Colley was immediately back in the action as he and Storey tested the fringes of the defence before Wilson weaved from deep into the visitors half.
With a strong diagonal wind in their favour Loughborough used the high ball to test the nerve of Robinson and Davies scampering to cover. A forward drive to the line was inconclusive but with the advantage of a five-yard scrum, quick heel and distribution the visitors had men over to score in the corner. Despite the wind the conversion was true and the opening ten minutes had seen a 7-0 deficit.
Finally Mansfield exercised some control and concerted pressure in their opponents 22. Taylor rampaged to the five metre line supported by Grant, Tom Newton and Drury allowed Jones and Kirk to move into midfield before a knock on halted progress. Robinson kept a clearance in play and beat three tacklers to set up a platform before Storey jinked his way clear and Holmes took play to the try line.
Stubborn defence twice held the tide of Blue and White jerseys but finally a surge breached the defence and Jones was diving over. Robinson coolly slotted a difficult conversion to level the scores and with four minutes to the break many thought the sides would be level at the interval. Loughborough had differing ideas and having recovered the kick off set them up on the Mansfield 22 before an electrifying burst on the perfect angle yielded a try under the posts.
A Wills charge down and hard fought turn over ball showed Mansfield had the spirit for a come back but within two minutes of the second half they found themselves 19-7 adrift, with another piece of quick Loughborough backs play. Once again though Mansfield showed the mettle of Champions. From their own half Kirk, with the inspirational leadership that made him The Portland Hotel Man of the Match, carried ball through a clutch of tacklers. Spencer, appearing for the second half, continued the impetus and released Colley. With the ball coming back to the forwards Pritchard spearheaded the drive and Richard Newton went over for the try, Robinson cutting the deficit to five points.
With the wind at their backs Mansfield through Wills, Robinson and Wilson sent play back to the visitors 22. Storey ran to the heart of the defence and after Wills again charged down an attempted clearance the mass of bodies prevented the referee from clearly seeing Newton touching down again. The relief was short-lived as two more five metre scrums saw the Loughborough pack on the back foot and Davies levelling affairs at 19-19.
Mansfield now had the scent of victory in their nostrils and when Holmes took the kick off back thirty metres Mansfield were again asking all the attacking questions. Despite failing to secure clean line ball the scrums were seeing Boro' in some disarray and allowing Mansfield to spread the ball wide for Rushby, on for Colley to probe on the left and Storey outflank on the right just being caught a metre from the line. Having been that close once he made no mistake when Newton, Davies and Robinson launched forward and finished in style. When Robinson kicked conversion number three just after the hour Mansfield were in front for the first time.
Any thoughts that the visitors would capitulate were soon squashed and once again good handling and running angles opened up Mansfield's defence and the score was pegged back to 26-24. A missed penalty could have gained them the lead once more but with Wills cool in cover defence, Rushby finding all enveloping tackles and Wilson knocking opponents back in the contact play was being forced back to where Mansfield could do damage and reach that magical thousand point mark.
Wills intercepted a desperate pass and Jones and Robinson forced Mansfield to within ten metres. Once again powerful driving and clearing out opened up the line and skipper Kirk was nestling the ball to the ground. With the wind blowing the ball off the tee, a hold up as the referee reprimanded Loughborough for spurious comments it seemed an interminable wait, adding to the tension round the ground, before Robinson hit the conversion long enough and accurate enough to reach 33 points on the day.
Only a couple of minutes left in this momentous season but enough for Mansfield to bring play back again to the Loughborough line and Spencer at speed brushed aside the opposition for try number six. Robinson brought the score to 40-24 and Mansfield had some revenge for that dropped point back in November. ‘The main thing was a win and going through the league undefeated. Loughborough are a much better side than the league position suggests' was Coach Steve Shaw's summary. ‘To get to the thousand points is icing on the cake and shows the brand of rugby we have brought along this season. I'm proud of Lee Kirk and all the squad who have contributed since we went to Coalville early last September.'
With no more First team games to come and the champagne bubbles barely burst you could see his thoughts turning to Division Two and plans to carry on from this season. If anyone is in doubt pre-season training will start in June. Warm up games are already booked for August as Mansfield look to pick up where they left off.
