U15 vs Ashfield

Report by Colin Harriman.

Always exciting local Derby eagerly awaited by both sides.

Ashfield have been suffering some recruitment and retention difficulties recently so our team were very grateful that the 11 players made the journey to Eakring Road to play us. Mansfield players put on the Ashfield shirt graciously to assist their opponents plus to get a chance to play against their own team mates.

03:00 Regan Hubbard makes a charge down the pitch with a show and go before offloading to the try line seeking missile that is George Holloway who puts the ball squarely under the posts allowing Regan Hubbard to convert for the extra 2 points.

05:00 and Declan Coppock sets Sam Potts on his usual power drive forwards towards the try line and dives over in a pile of defenders bodies. Regan Hubbard again adds the conversion.

07:00 Jake Brough hacks on a loose ball using his Fly Half precision kicking and chases all the way with 3 bounces into his arms and scores a try. Jack Harriman takes conversion but it goes to the left of the uprights.

13:00 Regan Hubbard does another show and go and sets up Jack Harriman for a try to break his recent try drought in the right hand corner. Regan Hubbard narrowly misses the conversion.

17:00 George Holloway goes 15 metres forward before an angular run which throws the Ashfield Full Back to put the ball in the left corner of the try line. Regan Hubbard takes the conversion but hits the right upright.

20:00 Regan Hubbard again has a fast carry before offloading to Jack Harriman to score another try. Regan Hubbard gets his breath back before lining up a perfect conversion.

23:00 Jack Harriman picks up his hat trick thanks to excellent team work something that has rapidly become a trademark of the Mansfield players. Regan Hubbard narrowly misses conversion.

28:00 Ashfield who have not shown any sign of having their heads down plough through the Mansfield defence for a try but miss conversion.

Half time MRUFC 48 - 10 ARUFC

31:00 Sam Potts glad to get his Mansfield shirt back on catches the ball cleanly from a high kick off and sprints for the try line. Jake Brough takes conversion but just misses.

39:00 Ashfield again pushes with great strength in the scrum something they have done consistently well throughout this game allowing their number 8 to scoop up the ball and drive for the Mansfield try line to score. Regan Hubbard now in an Ashfield shirt takes the conversion but it drifts across the face of the posts in the swirling wind.

55:00 Oliver Riddell makes a run of at least 50 metres side stepping defenders along the way to the try line. James Sims-Waterman puts his School sports lessons into practice to sweetly bisect both posts for conversion.

58:00 Oliver Riddell is away again spurred on no doubt by his rugby playing older brother watching on the touchline for another try. Jack Hodkin steps up to add to his excellent utility player status for conversion but it just drops agonisingly short of the crossbar.

60:00 and last play away goes Oliver Riddell again his turn of pace and ability to change direction is unparralleled today. Jack Harriman misses conversion with the ball grazing the left upright.

Today's team Captain Blair Holland shows his brilliant leadership and knowledge of the game again today.

Man of the Match goes to Jack Harriman for his hat trick today. He has put in some try saving tackles as Full Back all season but with the encouragement of the coaching team and teamwork of his fellow players has given him a taste for the opponents try line like never before.

Thank you to the sportsmanship of the Ashfield team and hopefully they will be back up to full strength soon.

Thanks also to Mr John Reville for his Refereeing and his explanation of decisions to the team which assists their development.