Mansfield 34 – 31 Loughborough

As the end of the season approaches, Mansfield played their final home game this past Saturday against Loughborough. After securing promotion last season, this was always going to be a test of the blue-and-whites’ ability to cope in a new, higher league. This performance was a perfect microcosm of the entire season, showcasing the ferocity of their defence, the power and flair in attack and, just to keep things balanced, the frustrations of errors. Ultimately, despite leaving it late and giving themselves a monumental defensive task to do, Mansfield were able to hang on their hard-fought lead and emerge victorious.

Head coach Nathan Hill was happy overall, though rued some defensive lapses: ‘We make things difficult for ourselves at times but our defence in those final few exchanges was outstanding.’

Not for the first time this season, Mansfield started the game in fine form, within the first couple of minutes Rio Turner was able to utilise his pace and evasiveness to register an early try and get the home team into the lead. A successful conversion by John-Ross Ward saw the additional two points added and the home team were 7-0 up.

What followed for the rest of the half was a battle for possession and territory that saw both teams exchange scores quite regularly. Loughborough were not prepared to kick much ball away and were content to run it through the phases as much as they could. Mansfield’s defence this season has, at times, been monumental, a vast improvement on previous seasons. For the most part, that was evident today as turnovers were won and lineout mauls were disrupted. However, at times it was the home team’s decision making that let them down. The next two scores came from Loughborough, the blue-and-whites making life difficult for themselves by dropping the ball and gifting possession to the opposition. Loughborough took full advantage of these errors and edged themselves into the lead, two tries and one conversion seeing the score read 12-7.

A scrum in the visitor’s 22 saw the blue-and-whites managed to secure the ball quickly and put some phases together before Nathan Hind powered through multiple defenders to dive over the line and register the first of what would be a memorable hat trick. A chance to re-take the lead was nulled as the conversion hit the point, leaving the scores tied up at 12 apiece.

An exchange of scores took us to half time. Ward added a penalty to his tally to see his team creep further in front, 15-12. However, a quick tap penalty was dropped leading to possession and momentum swinging back to the visitors. A powerful scrum lead to a penalty which gave them prime field position to take a quick tap and evade the defence to score. A successful conversion saw them back into the lead, 19-15. However, not to be undone, a lineout drive from a penalty gave Hind another opportunity to leave the opposition defence powerless as he broke through another batch of players to register his second and take his team back into the lead. A successful addition from Ward saw the half time score read 22-19 to the blue-and-whites. Still all to play for.

The second half was much like the first, full of both the sublime and the ridiculous. At times, the home team would look unstoppable and Loughborough struggled to stop the probing of the backs and the power of the forwards. This saw a deft Crossfield kick reach its way to Turner who adroitly evaded both the covering defence and the touchline to score his second. A tricky kick was missed but the home team had extended their lead, 27-19.

However, whether it was taking their foot off the pedal or the 8-point deficit having a galvanising effect on the their opponents, Mansfield spent the next period of the game on the back foot. Loughborough were gaining the possession and territory and the blue-and-whites were losing the battle with their discipline, not only conceding multiple penalties but, at one point, being marched back 20 metres for dissent. While this was frustrating, it did allow matchday sponsor Glenair’s player of the match Oliver Avison to display that his defence is just as powerful as his attack. The visitors used this advantage well to put their own phases into action and not only close the eight point gap but overtake it, putting themselves into the lead with two tries, one converted. At 31-27 and not long remaining, Mansfield needed to find a way back into the game.

And find a way they did. Finally being able to secure some territory, Hind once again proved too slippery to contain and, after breaking yet another tackle, galloped 20 metres to not only score his third but to take his team a solitary point in front. A successful conversion saw the blue-and-whites extend that lead, 34-31.

With time ticking down and mere minutes left on the clock, Loughborough had multiple opportunities to re-take the lead. A 5 metre scrum was the perfect platform to do that. However, possibly due to the tightness of the score and the proximity to the line, the visitors’ scrum half was pinged for putting the ball directly into the second row rather than the middle of the scrum. A free kick gave Mansfield the opportunity to clear but with the throw going to the opposition, it was still advantage Loughborough. However, to compound their issues, the resulting line wasn’t thrown straight giving Mansfield another opportunity to clear their lines.

If you thought that would be all the drama for the day, you’d be sorely mistaken. With literally the last play of the game, a penalty was awarded at the ruck to the visitors, the home team adjudged to have not released the tackled player before trying to turn the ball over. This lead to what can only be described as Mansfield’s best defensive display of the season. Betting men all over Eakring Road were left penniless as Mansfield defied the odds and repelled wave after wave of short drives from a determined Loughborough attack. When it was clear the pick-and-go wasn’t a viable option, Loughborough were smart and tried to spin it wide. However, Mansfield were outstanding in their scramble and not only managed to halt numerous drives but wrapped up the attackers’ arms to avoid any quick offloads. Ultimately, a dropped ball saw the lung-busting passage of play come to end and the ref blow the final whistle. An ecstatic home team celebrated as the final score read 34-31.

At times this was a frustrating game as Mansfield got themselves into a good position on the scoreboard and the field only to lose possession and put themselves under pressure, Loughborough taking every opportunity to poke and jab at the home defence. The visitor’s scrum was a thorn in the home team’s side all afternoon and provided a solid attacking platform. Ultimately, one 3-point penalty was the difference between the two teams. Loughborough take two bonus points away while Mansfield claim the full five and signed off this season’s Eakring Road fixtures with quite the performance.