U15 vs Nottingham Moderns

Report by Colin Harriman

The Clocks changed during the night so all the players should be refreshed from their lie in’s.

A very wet late autumn morning greeted the visiting Mansfield team. Nottingham Moderns seem to play on a school reduced size pitch unlike the full size pitch we are used too.

05:32 and the Referee award Mansfield a penalty for a Nottingham scrum infringement. Regan Hubbard who has sunk many conversions up to 45 metres narrowly misses this kick with the swirling wind.

11:00 And Nottingham Moderns use a well worked out play to score a try right under the posts leaving an easy conversion.

15:28 And Nottingham Moderns number 8 is passed the ball to make a fast and strong run down the centre of the pitch to score a try which is duly converted.

27:36 George Holloway makes good of a short and scores a well run jinking try which Regan Hubbard converts.

37:10 Nottingham Moderns have a strong scrum with a very competent Scrum Half who leaves his players in no uncertain terms where the ball is and the state of play. The ball comes out of the scrum and an awaiting centre holds the ball long enough for a tall Forward to scoop and run over for another try. Conversion was missed on this occasion.

41:12 Moderns score another Try but again miss conversion.

49:18 Ryan Haywood’s move from Scrum Half to a Centre meant that he could charge down the pitch handing off players before offloading to Regan Hubbard for a try which he then went onto convert taking the final score to Nottingham Moderns 24 – 14 Mansfield.

There were accusations of shenanigans on both sides which could have been easily dealt with if the Referee had had the benefit of Assistant Referees but nothing that would spoil the game.

Man of the Match was awarded by Coach Andy Hubbard to the whole team for there performance.

Honourable mentions as usual to George Holloway, Regan Hubbard and Jake Brough for the points on the board. The Pack who put up a real big push in every scrum and in particular to Blair Holland for his superb marshalling of the troops in every ruck and maul when he took over as Scrum Half.

Mansfield are eagerly awaiting the chance to play Nottingham Moderns again at Eakring Road.

Best Wishes to Harvey Johal on his recovery from an injury picked up in training.