U15's V Kesteven NLD

Report by Colin Harriman

30/09/12 Away to Kesteven.

Mansfield knew that they would be having to defend against the speedy backs of Kesteven after the NLD 7s Tournament last April.

The first of this seasons NLD shield games was always going to be tense but last weeks large loss against Nottingham meant the lads needed to start the game with the intensity that they showed against Keyworth in the first friendly of the year.

At 2:21 Declan Coppock showed that his 2 years away from the game haven’t dulled his technique with a hard fought try which Jake Brough converted neatly.

07:36 and George Holloway, who has shook off the flu that saw him miss last weeks game, scored a beautiful try whilst taking 2 defenders with him. Regan Hubbard just kicks the ball to the left of the post when trying to convert in the windy conditions.

12:24 George Holloway scores again but Jake Brough misses conversion.

16:12 and Scott Hughes manages to run 30m after a Kesteven player and with a dived ankle tap tackle he saves a guaranteed try for the Kesteven winger and manages to slow the move down until Jack Harriman at Full Back gets to him to assist.

20:37 Blair Holland was starting to feel left out and in his new role as Scrum Half, he takes the ball, hooked back from the scrum, and snakes through the a gap in the Kesteven defence for a try which Jake Brough just put to the right of the post for a missed conversion.

32:00 and Harvey Johal makes way for Jack Hardy who is on the pitch for 2 minutes before a tackle causes his right knee to buckle and he is replaced by Jack Hodkin.

A spurring half time team talk and the obligatory orange quarter and the lads still look as fresh as they did at first whistle. This is proven at 31:38 when Blair Holland scores another try with a missed conversion from Jake Brough.

Lots of backwards and forwards play proved that Kesteven were up for the battle and this continued until at 42:00 George Holloway is taken out without the ball allowing Jack Harriman to tap the ball down once it had crossed the try line but the Referee had already blown for a penalty try. Regan Hubbard missed conversion.

55:20 and Sam Potts with ball in one hand forces his way over the try line after going through 3 tacklers. Regan Hubbard steps up and kicks a superb long range conversion bisecting the posts like a sniper.

57:10 and Oliver Riddell who has been suffering with flu not that you could tell comes off and Harvey Johal goes back on the wing.

At 57:36 a Kesteven player is given a yellow card and the Mansfield players take the short time the Referee needs to take on water and allow a plan to be hatched that sees the ball kicked long into the Kesteven 22m George Holloway has to come off after taking a stray boot to the groin and Will Harper comes back on. With text book ball handling from centre to right wing and back inside Blair Holland scores his hat trick of try’s. Regan Hubbard lines the ball up on the kicking tee and left footed cleanly kicks it over for conversion, this gives him a 90% conversion rate for the season so far.

Man of the match was awarded to Scott Hughes for his try saving tackle and continued excellent improvement.

Honourable mentions go to Bailey Fox for a strong scrum and for heading a 15m rolling maul.

A big mention for Josh Kinta who played a real solid and mature game with strong tackles, fast runs and inch perfect offloads.

Hat tricks for Blair Holland and George Holloway.

Ably Captained by Jack Harriman.

Keep this level of performance up and show your skills next week in the demonstration match at Worksop.