Home team score five tries to claim Stag and Swan trophy.

Having formed in the same year, both Mansfield and Casuals have, for a long time, played for the
coveted Stag and Swan trophy, so named for the emblems of the two clubs. Moderns have edged the
last couple of contests, so Mansfield were eager to put that right.

Mansfield started the game with fire and determination but couldn’t make the pressure tell.
Moderns were full of ambition themselves but couldn’t find the right gear that would get that
determination and convert it to field position.

Both teams seemed evenly matched. However, it was Mansfield who would begin to pull away as the
half progressed. First, the home team managed to put together consistent phases and encroach ever
closer to the Moderns line. Taking advantage of this increasing and sustained pressure, hooker Zak
Walters burrowed over to register the first points of the game. A successful conversion by Taran Elms
saw the home team take a 7-nil lead.

The next score came from veteran scrum half Terry Davies doing what he does best, again taking
advantage of more consistent Mansfield play and darting over the line. Another successful kick saw
the lead extend to 14-0 and Mansfield seemed to be taking more control over the game.
Moderns were next awarded a penalty, reward for their tenacity in attack. They opted for the posts
and were successful, putting them on the board and closing the gap, 14-3.

The Mansfield pack were largely responsible for keeping the home line protected with some good
work on the floor and a dominant performance in the scrum, a more dominant performance than
has been seen at Eakring Road in some months. Special mention should go to the evergreen Ian
Coleman complimented by tenacious youngster and matchday sponsor Greene King’s Man of the
Match Billy Toon, who did not look out of place and was virtually everywhere and involved in every
play.

Mansfield began to build a bank of penalties and as they inched closer to the visitor’s 22 again the
option of a penalty lineout became available. Clean ball and fast hands saw the ball whip from one
side of the pitch to the other and into the waiting hands of Adam Rowbottom who sprinted the
remaining 15 yards to score the home team’s 3rd try. The conversion was missed but as the half time
whistle blew Mansfield had a comfortable lead at 19-3.

The beginning of the second half belonged to Moderns, scoring a penalty and a wonderful try of
their own, carving up the Mansfield defence and evading almost half the team in the process. A
missed conversion saw them 8 points behind at 19-11, giving Mansfield some breathing room to
regather. At this point the game was very open and, with just a few points in it, Mansfield needed to
respond quickly.

Respond they did, Harry Brough crossing the line only a couple of minutes later for the bonus point
try to increase the score again and maybe knock some wind out of the comeback sails. A conversion
took the score to 26-11 and looking more comfortable for Mansfield.

A penalty attempt at goal added another 3 points to the total and kept the scoreboard slowly ticking
over, meaning the home team kept turning the pressure. A lovely Crossfield kick was gathered by ​
determined Winger Rob Marsden who crossed the line for the 5th and final Mansfield try, a
conversion taking the home team’s final tally to 36.

However, the last word would belong to Moderns, and in quite spectacular fashion. With just a
couple of minutes on the clock the visitors threw everything at the home team and managed to
punch through the defence and register their second try. A missed conversion took them to 16 points
but they weren’t done yet. They gathered the ball from the restart and almost immediately burned
past most of the waiting defence to register a near-length of the pitch try to finish off the game in
quite some style.

The conversion was missed but the game was over. It was unfortunate for Moderns not to take
something away from the game as they showed much style and flair but just couldn’t gain any
traction against a spirited Mansfield team, who emerged victorious at 36-21

Next week Mansfield travel to Rolls Royce. You can follow the action on Twitter, @Mansfieldrugby
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