Mansfield 43 – 39 Lincoln

Eakring Road has already seen some nail-biting finishes this season and only two games have been played there. Unfortunately for those of a nervous disposition, that didn’t change this past weekend as Mansfield had to fight hard and grind out a win against a very determined Lincoln side, reports Phil Foster.

Whilst this was a very open, expansive game, victory wouldn’t have been claimed without a solid defensive performance by the home team. A good use of the pace out wide and a solid driving platform from the lineout allowed the blue-and-whites to take control, once again, in the final few minutes. Having to weather a barrage of offence in the dying moments and managing to deny a final try-scoring opportunity saw nerves stretched thin, but ultimately victory was thoroughly earned.

Head coach Nathan Hill knows his team had to work hard, saying: ‘That was tough but we were up to the task. I’m proud of the way we were able to keep ourselves in the game and not panic.’

As beginnings go, the game couldn’t have started much better. Joe Ducker, firmly back in fine form, got himself and his team on the scoresheet early with a try in the opening minutes. A successful conversion by Taran Elms saw the home team go in to an early 7-0 lead.

The next two tries belonged to the visitors and came from the power of their forwards. Lincoln’s set piece was a force to be reckoned with and not only helped set up these two tries but kept them on the front foot for large portions of the game. The first of these two tries came from a catch and drive deep in Mansfield’s 22. It was a juggernaut too difficult to halt and saw them cross the line. The second came from a scrum, again a platform that allowed them time and space to set up position and territory and cross the line once more. Both conversions were missed but the visitors has taken the lead, 10-7.

This back and forth occupied much of the remainder of the match and, while not conducive to good heart or fingernail health, was outstanding to watch. Both teams used the width of the pitch well and were dogged in the rucks, ensuring that they secured their own ball and disrupted their opponents as much as possible. Both teams matched each other step for step. Collisions crunched, balls fizzed and the whistle shrilled as a score by one outfit was soon matched by the other.

A yellow card for the home team made their job more difficult but solid defence meant they kept themselves in the game and denied the visitors on multiple occasions. The result of this utter chaos was a second try for Ducker, who wasn’t done for the afternoon just yet, and one for fullback Dillon Goddard, with two successful conversions by Elms. Lincoln went in to the half ahead as they were able to take advantage of the yellow card and drive themselves in to a 24-21 lead right on the stroke of half time.

The second half was much the same as the first. Lincoln had ascendency in the scrum but the blue-and-whites were able to secure their own ball.

The visitors did create several overlaps but were unable to utilise them fully, something Mansfield were more adept at. While the back-and-forth of the first half was repeated, it was inverted with the visitors grabbing the first try of the half, successfully converted, to extend their lead. While the home team were now 10 points behind at 31-21 they never looked out of the game.

This was shown in the lead up to the visitors receiving a yellow card of their own. A penalty to the home team saw them set a lineout deep in their opponent’s 22. A fierce catch and drive saw Lincoln unable to stem the tide and illegally collapse the maul. This resulted in a penalty try to the blue-and-whites and Lincoln being reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes. With penalty tries now being a full seven points, the score now read 31-28.

The remainder of the half continued as before. The visitors took the opportunity while down to 14 men to successfully take a shot at the posts and eventually added another try to their tally. For the home team, Ducker bagged his third of the game as he once again took advantage of the space on the wing to go 40m to the tryline. This also saw him pick up matchday sponsor Dianna Copestake’s player of the match award. Another solid catch and drive from the lineout saw Kyan Johnson bulldoze his way to the line and claim the final try of the game. With Johnson’s try successfully converted by Elms, and just minutes to go, Mansfield had the slenderest of leads, just one point, at 40-39.

There would be one final opportunity for the home team to extend their lead, a penalty by Elms taking them 4 points clear at 43-39. That wasn’t the end, though, as sustained and exhausting pressure exerted by the visitors had to be repelled. This valiant defending saw the home team hold up what would otherwise have been a certain try and, ultimately, win a last second penalty that allowed them to clear their lines and claim the victory.

This was not an easy game, Lincoln were dominant in the scrum, disrupted the lineout and were able to break through the midfield defence numerous times. But, whatever they could do, Mansfield could do, too. Ultimately, solid defence right up until the last seconds helped keep the home team in the game and fierce attack, even when under pressure, allowed them to continue knocking on the defensive door of their opponents. Ultimately, a fantastic spectacle overall.