Mansfield 17-26 Market Rasen & Louth

Report by Phil Foster

The annual Ladies Day event at Eakring Road is always a sight to behold as glamour and glitz are the order of the day. This year was no different as the Ladies of Mansfield Rugby Club sponsored the first home game of the New Year, welcoming Market Rasen & Louth.

While the game was a largely even affair that saw plenty of action, Mansfield were unable to capitalise on a strong first half and their opponents’ ill-discipline. Ultimately, the game slipped away in the second half and the home team succumbed to defeat, even a bonus point alluding them.

Head coach Nathan Hill knows this was a game that should have resulted in more, saying: “Frustrated, we made some really good opportunities and defended exceptionally at times but just couldn’t finish it.”

Rasen started in about as good a fashion as you can, scoring after just 2 minutes. Their pace out wide immediately presented itself as a problem for the Mansfield defence that they were unable to contain. The home team did, however, keep the try out wide which meant a difficult conversion was missed. Regardless, the intention from the visitors was clear, an early 5-0 lead showed they meant business.

Mansfield responded well to this initial score and took control of the game for much of the remainder of the half. Some good field position allowed a probing kick to be slotted through the visitors’ defence and create a clear opportunity for the home team to gather and score. However, a Rasen defender pulled down a would-be-gatherer, incurring the wrath of the referee who awarded a penalty try. As is now the law, Mansfield were awarded the full 7 points and the visitors were reduced to 14 players for ten minutes, not the only time they would fall foul of the man with the whistle. At 7-5, Mansfield were now in the lead and with an advantage.

The home team used this advantage to put together a coherent half of rugby that saw them add two more tries to their tally. The teams were largely at a stalemate in various facets of the game. The scrum ebbed and flowed with dominance swinging from one side to the other, the rucks were a fierce contest that resulted in numerous turnovers and penalties to touch that could have given solid field position were missed. When Mansfield spread the ball wide they were able to create real issues, evidenced when a beautifully floated pass from midfield found its way, via a deft offload by Alan Symcox, to Phil Pogmore on the wing who managed to evade the covering defence and score the blue-and-whites’ second. A difficult touchline conversion was missed but the lead had been extended, 12-5.

The third try of Mansfield’s afternoon would be added before half time with Oliver Avison on a crash ball from 20 metres out that saw him break through two defenders and palm away a third before dotting down. The conversion was missed but the half time score read in Mansfield’s favour, 17-5 and with plenty to positives to take into the second half.

Unfortunately, that did not turn out as one might have hoped. Credit to Rasen, they took the opportunity at the break to regroup and didn’t stray from their gameplan. When they spread the ball wide and utilised their pace they made life difficult for the home team. While Mansfield’s defence grew in strength throughout the half, managing to stop numerous more try scoring opportunities, at times the visitors outnumbered the defence and were able to play a good offloading game. Rasen managed to score three tries in the second half, all converted, to take their final tally to 26.

However, they did not have it all their own way. Mansfield were never outclassed, they were strong in the set piece and frustrated Rasen at every opportunity. Rasen, to their credit, gave back in spades. It was a mixture of both frustration and excitement as the home team managed to create multiple excellent opportunities, spending a good chunk of time camped in the opposition 22, but lacked that final clinical edge to finish.

Mansfield were kept scoreless in the second half. While you have to give credit to the visitors for the way they came back after the break, they will not be happy with their discipline. Having already conceded a yellow in the first half, they conceded a second yellow and a red in the second half.

Unfortunately, the blue-and-whites were unable to take advantage of this and the final whistle blew
with the score reading 26-17.

Mansfield showed a real cohesive spirit at times and were able to create chances both through their pack and in the outside channels. However, this was a match of ‘coulda, shoulda’. Mansfield could have won this game; they should have taken two losing bonus points. However, it was not to be and they will no doubt regroup, lick their wounds and sharpen themselves ready for the next battle.