As has become tradition over the last few years, this past Saturday saw Eakring Road welcome the Royal British Legion to perform their remembrance parade. As poignant and powerful as always, it was an excellent opener to what was a fierce and competitive game of rugby. With Mansfield sitting in second place and Melton Mowbray gnashing at their heels in third, this was a game both teams wanted desperately to win. After a fantastic, competitive affair, it came down to the final ten minutes and Mansfield’s scrum to be the difference maker.

Head coach Anthony Jones was happy to see his team keep pushing right to the end: ‘We found a way to unlock their defence at the end and controlled it well so I can’t complain about that.’

Melton Mowbray’s start to the game swayed wildly from one end of the spectrum of emotions to the other. A yellow card after only a few minutes of play saw them reduced to 14 players in a game where any disadvantage could be catastrophic. However, it was actually the visitors themselves who came out of this period the brighter as they scored the first points of the game, an unconverted try, to take the lead, 5-nil.

The first half was fierce as both teams threw everything they had at each other, as has become the norm for games this season. Tackling was fierce, rucks were fierce, bones were rattled, fillings were shaken and egos were bruised as both teams, to put it scientifically, knocked the stuffing out of each other. Both teams gave away penalties, both teams had lineouts that misfired at times but one thing neither team did was stop. It was relentless. This was exemplified by Fin Ogley, whose efforts were rewarded by receiving the matchday sponsor Matt and Tat McFarlane’s player of the match award.

The remainder of the half became a battle of discipline. As tries were something of a luxury, it fell to whoever could take advantage of their kickers. The visitors did themselves no favours in this area as they received a second yellow card. However, the fact the blue-and-whites opted to kick at the posts whenever they had the chance is testament to Mowbray’s defence, even when down in numbers. Taran Elms was responsible for his team’s points, slotting three penalties while the visitors slotted one, meaning the score at half time saw Mansfield in the slenderest of leads, 9-8.

The second half was much the same as the first. Mansfield opened up the scoring with another Elms penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking, 12-8. However, the blue-and-whites then received a yellow card of their own. Mowbray took full advantage of the numbers to spread the ball both ways before ultimately finding the gap on the wing and diving over the line. A successful conversion saw them push their way into the lead, 15-12.

And that was how it stayed for a while. Both teams continued to prod and poke but nothing was bearing fruit. As the final ten minutes began, it would be one key element that broke the deadlock. The scrum up to that point had been largely Mansfield’s area of dominance but there hadn’t been many of them. The last ten minutes saw that change as a succession of penalties in the visitor’s 22 allowed the blue-and-whites to continually choose to scrummage. This was where the scrum was the most potent. Controlling the ball at the base, Danny Spencer timed his pickup perfectly to burrow through the line of defence and score his team’s first try. The conversion was missed but with time running out, the home team were back in front, 17-15.

Then, a third and final yellow card for the visitors saw the blue-and-whites receive a penalty, again in the 22. It was an easy decision to make. Another scrum, another perfectly timed Spencer pickup and the game had gone from deadlocked to opening up in Mansfield’s favour. Another conversion was missed but with just minutes on the clock and playing with a player advantage, the home team could breathe a little easier with the score reading 22-15.

A final penalty saw Elms kick the ball out and the final whistle blow. A deserved victory for the home team who were able to control the scrum in those final minutes and make sure it paid its due. Mowbray will take a well-deserved bonus point for losing within 7 but will no doubt be disappointed to have received three yellow cards. Mansfield’s unbeaten run continues. None of their games so far have been easy and have come down to a mere handful of points but they have dug deep and come out the victors.