1st XV
Matches
Sat 17 Nov 2018  ·  Midlands 3 East (North)
Mansfield Rugby Club
1st XV
Tries: A RowbottomPenalties: R hubbard
23
24
Belper
Last gasp winner denies home team a hard fought victory

Last gasp winner denies home team a hard fought victory

Paul Race19 Nov 2018 - 13:36
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Report by Phil Foster

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how much you think you deserve something, things just don’t go your way. That could not be a more fitting description of Saturday’s game, a pulsating affair that literally came down to the last minute before being decided.
Head Coach Wayne Robinson was frustrated with the overall outcome but proud of his team’s display: “I’m gutted for the boys, we played really well for most of the game but just couldn’t get the final result.”
Belper were lying 2nd in the table as of Saturday morning, a daunting prospect for any team to face. It came as no surprise, then, that the first try would go to them, their attack carving through the home defence to register the first points of the day. A successful kick saw them go into an early 7-nil lead.
However, any doubts about the lack of competition from the home side would soon be put to bed as Belper struggled to get their game plan moving. While they were adventurous and committed to playing running rugby, they were forced into mistakes by a relentless Mansfield defence. This seemed to affect them as they then began to make unforced errors as well. A forward pass here, a dropped ball there, it became apparent that 2nd place, in this contest at least, meant nothing.
Mansfield were amassing a collection of penalties and eventually went for the posts, Regan Hubbard slotting over the ball to reduce the deficit, the score now reading 7-3 to the visitors.
Mansfield took this opportunity to apply more pressure and, while the visiting scrum grew in confidence and dominance throughout the game, the home team were claiming the ascendency in all other areas. This surplus of possession and territory didn’t always end in points though. A 5m ruck platform was lost to a turnover that had all the Eakring Road faithful expecting a breakaway try. As if to show the league positions were no reflection of the teams, first Hubbard put in a try-saving tackle on one wing, before Zane Chiappetta put in another on the other wing mere moments later.
Eventually, Mansfield did make their possession tell with some good phases of play allowing full back Adam Rowbottom to benefit from quick ball and dive over. The blue-and-whites had now taken the lead at 8-7.
Belper had the chance to take the lead again but missed a chance at the posts, the first of a couple of missed chances that could have helped momentum swing back their way. As if to exemplify the pressure Mansfield were exerting on the opponent’s lineout, a 5m defensive lineout was lost. Mansfield regathered the ball and getting it Mike Wallis he was able to piledrive his way over. The half time score now read 13-7 to the home team.
The second half was much like the first, both teams relentless in their attack and solid in defence. That defence had to be breached at some point and it was the visitors who were first to benefit, a try scored to bring them to within one point with the kick to come. A missed conversion saw the gap remain at one point, just 13-12 and all to play for.
The scrum dominance for the visitors was continuing to grow, perhaps the one area of the game that they had total control over. That said, open play was still where most chances occurred, Chiappetti taking full advantage of some doglegged defence to race past 4 defenders and score a wonderful try under the posts. A simple conversion saw the lead extend to 20-12.
Belper weren’t done though, adding another try to their tally. A missed conversion saw the gap now just 3 points, 20-17. This gap would be extended with another penalty to the home team, 23-17 a better score but still not a guaranteed victory. With the final 10 minutes well underway, Mansfield needed a solid defensive display to grind out a well-earned win.
And then the 5 metre scrums came – lots of them! This had been Belper’s one area of dominance all game. While pressuring the defensive line, Belper dropped the ball and a scrum was called. What followed was 5 minutes of relentless pressure. Mansfield managed to regain the ball at the first scrum, but with the pack being driven backward it was all that could be done to dot the ball down over their own line. As it had been carried back, a 5m scrum to the attacking team then followed. It then became a case of whether the Mansfield scrum could withstand the pressure. They couldn’t. Belper’s scrum dominance had paid off very late in the game and they were able to drive over the line.
Still, at 23-22 to the home team, and with the kick was still to come, there was a chance Mansfield may still emerge the victors. It would be fair to say the Belper kicker’s game had been mixed, with some missed kicks at goal already and this one taking place out wide. However, it doesn’t matter how many kicks you miss as long as you nail the important ones, and nail this one he did. With seconds still left to play, Belper had nudged into the lead, 24-23.
That would be the final score, Mansfield unable to score any more points before the final whistle blew. Still, a point taken away from a game against the 2nd team in the league table is no mean feat and will surely stand the team in good stead for the future.
This week is national cup weekend and so there will be no First XV game.

Match details

Match date

Sat 17 Nov 2018

Kickoff

14:15

Meet time

12:45

Competition

Midlands 3 East (North)

League position

2
Belper
8
Mansfield
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Main Club Sponsor - AIPS
Match Sponsor - Rainworth Skoda
Club Sponsor - Stopfords Chartered Accountants