Mansfield march after top of table clash
MIDLANDS 3 EAST (NORTH)
SPALDING 8 MANSFIELD 28
No records this week but great satisfaction as Mansfield went to closest rivals Spalding and ran in five tries and came away with the two league points. It was a game full of passion, commitment, determination and no lack of skill. A first home defeat for Spalding means that Mansfield have met the three sides most fancied to challenge for the title, all away from home, and have come away with three wins.
‘That was our best all round performance so far’ was Coach Steve Shaw’s summary. ‘Our defence was superb and we only conceded points when down to fourteen men. Their try was pinpoint and unstoppable. Alongside that we seized the chances we created and forced the opposition into errors.’
Once again Mansfield were quick off the mark. As Spalding shaped to take the kick off they found Stringfellow in their midst and he palmed the ball back to the supporting pack. A series of drives with Kirk, Spencer and Pritchard leading from the front before the ball went back to Wills. He flighted the ball to the try line and as it bounced high into in-goal Wilson’s perfectly timed run and leap collected the ball. Just a minute on the watch and a 5-0 lead.
The restart found Newton taking play back over half way before a penalty set up Spalding’s first attack. Robinson ensured the line stayed intact and a solid defence ushered play away from danger with Pritchard emerging, ball in hand to link with fellow second row Stringfellow running play back to safety. Holmes was proving more than a handful round the flanks and Grant and Spencer turned the home pack.
Mansfield foxed the home side with a clever 22 drop out and Wilson chased to force a penalty that sent Davies on a sniping run. Unable to capitalise on good line ball Spalding looked to have set up an attacking option but Storey set off from his own 22 weaving through the heart of the opposition before being hauled down sixty metres later. Spencer was next to test the route to increasing the lead and Colley was forced out on the right.
Secure on their own put in and with a stream of line out possession Spalding’s problems increased with Pritchard stealing home ball and moving clear before Kirk, Davies, Jones and Newton on the charge. Despite the still conditions both sides were struggling with their penalty and conversion kicks and after Mansfield failed to extend their lead ball stayed in hand with Wilson, Homes and Coleman linking well.
The tension of such a vital game snapped with a flare up after a scrum before Wills, Holmes and Jones stopped a foray in its tracks. A forward pass halted Storey when Davies looked to have sent him clear. Robinson and Colley stopped a breakaway before turning defence into attack and Jones determined chase and shuddering tackle ensured Mansfield ended the half threatening the Spalding line.
An interval lead of just 5-0 was scant reward for the territory and possession the Blue and Whites had enjoyed. It left the game teetering in the balance but once again coming straight out of their trap another half began with early points. Despite losing their own line out Mansfield mustered a defensive line and when the force of Holmes’s tackle spurted the ball clear Stringfellow was quick to pick up and had Wills on his shoulder. The fly half dummied his way past three men and kicked long over the retreating defence. His speed put him in front on the chase to the line and Mansfield doubled their lead.
Keen to maintain the impetus Drives from Coleman, Spencer plus Pritchard finding space to bring Jones and Colley into play and another Mansfield score had to come. Holmes and Spencer carried ball forward, Wills changed the direction of attack and his speed plus that of Newton and Storey saw the winger crossing on fifty minutes.
Davies collected the kick off and Holmes with Grant found the pack in support setting up for a howitzer boot from Wills sent the Lincolnshire team back defending their line. Another line out and drive just failed to cross for more points before Mansfield were reduced to fourteen men after Pritchard was the most visible of several miscreants in a maul and left for ten minutes in the sin bin.
Despite driving defence, and a tackle to prevent a certain score by Storey, Mansfield were undone. Having bottled a line out drive down the blind side an inspirational cross-field kick was inch perfect to the right-winger who strolled over. Before Mansfield could be restored to a full complement a penalty in front trimmed the lead to 15-8, just one score apart. With Newton limping off Hooper added fresh legs and was immediately involved with Spencer, taking play to the home 22 and winning a penalty. A change of kicker saw Robinson step up and stoke the ball between the posts. Ten points and fewer minutes on the clock Spalding had not given up hope but with three minutes remaining Mansfield clinched the points. Wingers Colley and Storey linked, Wilson punted forward where Wills and Robinson combined before giving the ball back to the centre who ran in his second try of the day.
The silence round the majority of the large, vociferous crowd showed just how well Mansfield had snuffed out Spalding’s best efforts and taken control. That control was emphasised with one more thrust and a fifth try. Kirk was ripping ball deep in his 22 and setting off up field. ‘I weighed up the options of running the length of the field’ said the skipper after the game ‘but Ash Wills was better placed.’ The hooker’s kick travelled sixty-five metres and indeed Wills was there to collect and score.
A twenty point margin was hard justice on Spalding a in such a tight, closely fought game but the win was well deserved. This week there is more Lincolnshire opposition when Grimsby travel to Eakring Road for a 2.15 kick off. The sides have had tight Cup encounters before and this first league encounter should be in the same mould. Mansfield will be anxious to maintain their 100% record before taking to the road for two more games. Stoke lay in wait in the EDF Senior Vase before a trip to Loughborough is the next league fixture.
