With Notts Casuals starting to come to fruition in the Pennant League Group 2 Mansfield had to try and sneak this one from under their feet to stay top of the table and for 79 minutes that looked possible!

In all fairness it was a very evenly contested game but Mansfield seemed to find some extra gas in the second half to put Notts under a lot of pressure and it was only some adept kicking from their 10 and 15 that kept Mansfield from scoring more heavily.

A change of pitches due to shoulder injury in the NC camp meant the last 8 minutes of the first half were played on the back pitch which is shorter but and not as wide…probably more suited to the Blue and Whites. At half time it was still a close affair with NC leading 5-8.

Change of ends with Mansfield now having the slope they showed yet again that they can compete against the 2nd XV sides in this league when they put their mind to it. A rampage started and a quick try from Shaun Morgan put Mansfield ahead and from here on in Mansfield looked the stronger side with NC desperately defending.

A couple of break away attacks saw NC in the game until the end and a penalty awarded in front of the posts with seconds to go sealed the win for NC much to their relief.

This was a very good contest between two very competitive teams.

This was the last league game for Mansfield 3rds until February 2012.