1st XV
Matches
Sat 23 Mar 2019  ·  Midlands 3 East (North)
Mansfield Rugby Club
1st XV
21
22
Buxton
Home team fall to narrow defeat

Home team fall to narrow defeat

Paul Race25 Mar 2019 - 09:31
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https://www.mansfieldrugby.co.

Report by Phil Foster

Mansfield came in to this game looking to rebuild confidence after a run of narrow losses. The weather was perfect for a game of rugby and, all things considered, it was a good contest. While the teams were ultimately separated by one point, the home team will be ruing missed opportunities.
Head coach Wayne Robinson epitomised this frustration: “I thought we played well for the most part, but we just couldn’t get any momentum going at times. Missed points are always going to hurt ultimately.”
As has been the frustrating norm for this season, the home team started slowly, conceding 12 easy points before really getting settled in to the game. The first try came from a charge down near to the posts, the kick being converted and a 7-nil lead being registered within the first 5 minutes. The second came from open play, the Mansfield defence being breached for the second time in the opening quarter. The conversion was missed but the visitors had amassed a 12-nil lead and Mansfield had a lot of work to do.
Mansfield had their chances to get themselves back in to the game and were winning successive penalties. The first attempt at goal was successfully converted by Regan Hubbard to bring Mansfield on to the scoreboard, 12-3. Almost immediately the home team received another penalty but instead of going for posts and clawing themselves back in to the game, it was taken quickly. This proved fruitless as the ball was lost and Buxton were able to clear their lines.
A second attempt at the posts was missed but Mansfield were able to claim the 22 restart, put some good phases together and build a solid platform to attack from. Some good driving from the forwards and clear awareness from the backs saw a lovely floating pass reach Steve Davison who gladly beat the remaining defender to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but Mansfield were back in the game as the half drew to a close. 12-8 on the scoreboard to the visitors as two missed penalties saw a potential lead just out of sight.
The second half was much the same as the first and served as a nice microcosm for the season as a whole. Lots of industrious work by the forwards in both defence and attack, including a hard, thankless shift from matchday sponsor AIPS’ man of the match Kian Johnson. The scrum slowly began to be controlled by the visitors, however the ball was often recovered well by the blue-and-whites, the lineout functioned well and there was some nice interplay out wide. Unfortunately, the final pass just lacks a level of cutting edge. Buxton to their credit defended well and attacked with vigour but they also struggled to put many phases together, often due to their own lack of control but also due to the veracity of the home defence.
A successful penalty from Taran Elms saw Mansfield edge to just one point behind, 12-11. However, Buxton claimed the next score and propelled themselves back in to the lead, a converted try seeing the score read 19-11.
A penalty just outside of kicking range saw the home team feed the ball through the hands, recycle through some nice phase play and get the ball to Nathan Jones who managed to beat 5 defenders on his way to the line, helpfully slamming the ball down just off the side of the posts, making the kick easier. This was converted meaning it was again a 1 point game, 19-18 to the visitors.
This was followed up by another penalty attempt by the blue-and-whites. A clear head saw this one converted and for the first time in the game, the home team were in the lead, 21-19. With not long left there was a good feeling around the ground as the home defence had been dogged and determined for much of the second half.
However, as often happens in rugby, immediately after scoring and taking themselves in to the lead, the home team conceded a penalty well within kicking distance. Much to the heartbreak of fans and players alike, the visitors opted for the posts and successfully slotted, pushing Buxton back in to the lead by 1 point.
That would be the final score leaving Mansfield ruing another one-point defeat. A losing bonus point will be scant consolation for a game that should have been a well-earned victory.
Next week, Mansfield host Kesteven which will be at home and not away as originally planned. You can follow the action on Twitter @MansfieldRugby.

Match details

Match date

Sat 23 Mar 2019

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Midlands 3 East (North)

League position

6
Buxton
8
Mansfield
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

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