Records go at Eakring Road
MIDLANDS 3 EAST (NORTH)
MANSFIELD 117 OAKHAM 0
Mansfield rewrote the record books on Saturday as their storming start to the season reached new heights. The 117 – 0 result was Mansfield’s highest ever league win, the biggest win at Eakring Road and second highest first team score in the club’s history.
Their haul took them past 500 points for the 8 competitive games so far and up to 452 in seven league encounters. Yet despite that score line there was much credit and admiration for an Oakham side that battled throughout the eighty minutes, competing all the way. It was simply that Mansfield performed in all departments and having laid a solid foundation showed the flair and confidence that has been growing week by week.
Mansfield kicked off and with just one minute on the clock had secured their first try. The long kick was punted back up field and Symcox collected attacked the line with Storey and quick ball opened the way for the first of Wilson’s four tries. When the restart failed to make the necessary ten metres Mansfield were too strong but over impetuous at the scrum. That allowed Oakham to attack but their next scrum was comprehensively and legally pushed off possession on Mansfield’s 22. Davies picked out Wills who stretched the cover before chipping ahead and collecting the ball before racing in at the corner. He also started a personal tally of nine conversions and a dozen points in the opening five minutes.
The catching of Stringfellow and excellent protection of his forwards meant immediate platform to launch back into Oakham territory. Holmes, Pritchard and Wilson took Mansfield to within ten metres and after blatant feeding a quick tap saw Davies emerge to run in try number three. Once again the Blue and Whites marshalled the kick to them and within three minutes Kirk carried ball forward, Symcox launched the Garryowen and was on the end of a Wills, Wilson and Jones move to finish with a try.
Adventure and entertainment was the name of the game now. Storey and Spencer interchanged passes and the Mansfield drive did the rest. Symcox, playing his last game before joining National League Luton, was again on hand to score under the posts. Before the first quarter was up try number six arrived. Davies seized the opportunity and a classic three quarter passing move end with Colley celebrating his birthday by accelerating through the first line of defence then round the remainder and under the posts. 38 –0 and the supporters had hardly caught their breath.
A Simmons run put Mansfield back on the front foot with Newton and Storey adding pace. Oakham had a line out but Grant emerged with the ball, Holmes opened the play up and Jones, the tireless provider, proved finisher on this occasion. Pritchard carried ball to the Oakham line but was held before Spencer powered over and the half-century went up on the board.
Before the interval Mansfield went close twice but a knock on and a pass behind Storey with the line open lost opportunity. What was successful was scrum dominance and a quick heel allowing Wills to send Wilson for his second try and Pritchard gaining his reward with a try on the half time whistle.
The 64-0 cushion allowed a triple substitution for the second half and two players immediately featured. Hooper collected the Oakham kick and supported by Robinson led Mansfield into the opposition 22. Hooper then towered at the line out, Jones crashed through the defence and Davies was darting over. Three minutes played and any fear Mansfield might have gone off the boil dispelled.
Further scrum problems and Holmes was headed across the line, a break down in a passing move and Wilson hacked through and won the race for the points. Moving into the final quarter Newton, Wilson and Colley combined to give Draycott a run. He nearly escaped for a try to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of his first team debut, but was more notable for two important tackles as the visitors looked to break clear.
Wills finished off a Colley run and Newton showed pace to move the points to 98. The hundred looked a formality but the upright denied String fellow’s conversion. Despite going down to fourteen after a yellow card for Spencer Mansfield were not to be denied. Even with a seven man pack they dictated the possession, Jones harried the defence and Wilson did the rest. Newton exploited tiring legs as Mansfield had four players clear and ready to put their name on the scorecard.
One of them was Kirk but the Captain didn’t have to wait long for his first of the season as he directed a rolling maul and controlled the touchdown. Oakham still had the spirit to attack deep to the Mansfield 22 but hosts were in no mood to concede anything. The final whistle signalled changes in the writing of the Mansfield history books but more importantly maintained the top spot in the table and the desire to bounce straight back up the league ladder.
Forwards Coach Keith Calladine purred ‘ Great technique in scrum and at lineout, real commitment, concentration and fitness laid the platform’ as he accepted the JASS Café Men of the Match award alongside Coach Steve Shaw. ‘ We played some super rugby out there today and just as important as the big score on the board was the nil. Great determination, discipline and defensive drills right to the end and a clean sheet.’ was his summary.
One of the real crunch games of the season awaits the Blue and Whites this weekend. They travel to second place Spalding who hover two points behind after a win at Ilkeston. A sterner examination is guaranteed in a fixture identified as ‘must win’ if title ambitions of both clubs are to be realised.
