With the league now finished, matters turned to cup action this past Saturday as Mansfield, still celebrating their champion status, hosted visitors Littleborough in the quarter final of the National Cup. As part of the club’s 70th anniversary celebrations, this was President’s Day, hosted by club president Michael Copestake, replete with good food, a special commemorative ale and, of course excellent rugby played in fine weather. With a victory by the Mansfield Vets over Southwell Vets as a curtain raiser, attention then turned to the cup game as the blue-and-whites were forced to endure a torrid contest full of ups, downs and everything in between. Thankfully, they were able to withstand the pressure, and a lung-bursting period of extra time secured victory and saw them progress to the semi-final.

Head coach Anthony Jones was understandably thrilled: ‘There were a few periods where I thought we had our heads down but we regrouped well and I’m really happy with how we dug deep.’

Mansfield started off as well as they could do, pressuring from the kick off and making Littleborough work to clear their lines. An attempted clearing kick was charged down, the ball was regathered and Phil Pogmore, who has been a livewire all season, gladly crashed over the line to open up the scoring and put a marker down early. The conversion was missed but at 5-nil after merely a few minutes, this was a good start.

However, the visitors were not about the take that lying down and what followed was a back and forth affair that allowed neither team to really take any breaks or get a solid footing in the game. Turnovers were won, penalties were conceded, offloads were thrown and the thud of bodies hitting the floor filled the air, along with plumes of dirt as the sun-baked ground gave no concessions. The momentum and lead changed hands numerous times and it was only in the final 2 minutes of extra time that victory was sealed. This was one of Mansfield’s toughest tests all season, if not the toughest, and for large periods they were more than up to the challenge. However, indiscipline and some moments of self-inflicted misery meant that Littleborough were always breathing down their neck. That’s not to suggest the visitors had no impact, they were immense and dogged and just would not give up. This was exactly what knockout rugby should be, both teams wanted to win and were prepared to put their bodies on the line to do it. This willingness to leave everything on the pitch saw Michael Copestake pick both Oliver Avison and Dillon Goddard to share player of the match honours.

A loose lineout saw the visitors pounce on a loose ball and string some phases together to get themselves on the scoresheet. A successful conversion saw them take lead, 7-5. A procession of penalties gave the blue-and-whites the opportunity and territory to probe and prod at the visitor’s defence before deciding that taking the points and keeping the scoreboard ticking would be the better option. Taran Elms duly slotted a penalty through the posts to sneak back into the lead, 8-7. The visitors were able to once again work the phases, winning a number of penalties that saw them take a quick tap and evade the home defence to add their second try. The conversion was missed but it meant they went into half time with a 12-8 lead.

The second half was more of the same with both teams engaged in an arm wrestle for territory and possession. Although Mansfield improved immensely in this period their discipline almost cost them dearly this half as two yellow cards saw them relinquish a 10-point lead and allow the visitors to force the game into extra game. The first score went to Littleborough during the first of Mansfield’s 10-minute periods with 14 men, a quick tap and go from a penalty seeing them over the line. A successful conversion extended their lead to 19-8 and Mansfield were looking to regroup yet again.

They were able to thoroughly insert themselves back into the game again. Now back up to the full complement of players, they were able to keep hold of the ball, thread some phases together and allow Danny Spencer to crash over the line. The conversion was slotted by Elms and suddenly the difference was only 4 points, 19-15. With growing confidence, Mansfield upped their attack. A quite sublime chip over the top of the defence saw replacement Sean Roberts gather a difficult bounce, evade one tackler and execute a chip of his own over the last line of defence. All he had to go was gather the ball and the try was his. Gather he did, much to the delight of his fellow players. Elms slotted the conversion to take his team back in to the lead, 22-19.

This confidence continued when the blue-and-whites managed to retain the ball at the base of a splintering scrum, an area that Littleborough troubled them with all afternoon, to once again push the ball wide, Sam Blackwell using his pace to finally get across the line. Elms slotted another conversion and the Mansfield lead extended to 29-19. 21 unanswered points scored and with the final whistle getting ever closer, the blue-and-whites were on the cusp of victory.

However, because every cup game requires a bit of drama, the visitors were able to get themselves back in contention. First, a try under the posts with but a couple of minutes on the clock. The conversion was missed and with the score now 29-24 to Mansfield, the visitors required at least a try to draw the game. However, disaster struck as another yellow card to the home team saw the visitors take advantage of the numbers and score a try to tie the scores. A conversion could win the game. This conversion was missed, forcing the game into extra time as the scores remained 29-apiece after 80 minutes

Extra time was fraught with tension as neither team wanted to yield. Mansfield snuck in front with another Elms penalty before Littleborough gave themselves all the advantage with a converted try. With minutes left, and Littleborough leading 32-36, Mansfield needed something special to claw this one back. And special they provided. A lineout saw the blue-and-whites secure the ball, following a delightful chip over the defence from Elms, this led to claiming what would ultimately be the decisive try with Blackwell being the one to receive the ball and gladly dive over the line. Elms slotted the conversion to edge his team into the most precarious of leads, 39-36.

While there was still a couple of minutes to play, Mansfield would ultimately gain control of the ball and get it off the pitch, bringing with it the final whistle. This was a hugely intense encounter that swung both ways and could easily have finished differently. The blue-and-whites had to dig deep to claw their way back into the game and then nearly let it slip through their fingers as Littleborough put them to the sword. Not the best of games for the nerves but as spectacles go, you can’t really ask for much better.