With Spring and the hope of some warmer weather approaching, it was certainly a welcome afternoon of rugby this past Saturday after numerous cancelled fixture due to waterlogged pitches. Mansfield have been looking to continue their form post-Christmas and the enforced breaks are never helpful. However, the weather remained dry and Mansfield were able to continue their unbeaten run again a spirited but depleted West Bridgford side.

Head coach Anthony Jones was happy considering the disruption caused in previous weeks: ‘We kept the scoreboard ticking over and made sure not to drop the tempo.’

Mansfield started well and managed to remain mostly consistent throughout. The bonus point was secured by half time with some good set pieces, especially the scrum, serving them well, creating a good platform from which they could set up multiple phases and keep pressure on the visitors. The early exchanges were dominated by the home team and saw them establish a pace that they were able to dictate for much of the game.

All in all, seven tries were scored in the first half through a combination of pace, power and the desire to not let the visitors take a moment to breathe. Sam Blackwell, Rio Turner, Lewis Cowlishaw and Zane Chiapetta all claimed tries in the first half, Turner in particular putting in a shift and bagging the first three of what would become a four-try haul for the afternoon. Taran Elms added five conversions to bring the blue-and-whites’ first half haul to 45. Not everything went smoothly, however. Ill-discipline saw the ref brandish two yellow cards and Bridgford used the numbers advantage to score their only try of the game, missing the conversion. Half time was 45-5 to Mansfield.

The second half was much of the same. Bridgford made more of a nuisance of themselves but couldn’t find that final pass to unlock the home defence. Mansfield were able to continue using the set piece as a platform and keep moving the ball as much as possible. Chiappetta added a second, Danny Spencer added his name to the sheet and Turner completed his quartet. Youngster Alfie Russell put his stamp on the game by claiming the final try. His performance, and Turner’s overall contribution, saw them both claim player of the match from matchday sponsors The Skillington Family, AIPS Insurance and Bray’s Pipelines LTD. Four more conversions from Elms and the final score read 73-5 to the home team.

Unfortunately, the game was not kind to the visitors, West Bridgford suffering a spate of injuries that reduced their on-field numbers to a meagre 11. With the score reaching over 70 points, and the requisite amount of time played, it was decided to end the game early.