Glossop…7 Mansfield…48
Sponsored by ALDI
Glossop welcomed unbeaten league leaders Mansfield to Hargate Hill this Saturday, and after a high scoring away victory last weekend expectations were high. It didn’t take long for Mansfield to show just why they are putting teams to the sword in such spectacular fashion. The Nottinghamshire sides forwards were picking the ball and hitting the fringes around the rucks with relentless power. Glossop were struggling to live with their stronger and better drilled opponents. Mansfield duly opened the scoring in the eighth minute, good ball was being produced for the backline as their forwards dominated.
Glossop were living off scraps, but whenever the blues backline had the ball in hand they looked dangerous. As Mansfield’s structured play was proving so fruitful for them, Glossop had to keep the ball in hand. Gareth Williams was doing his level best to prove he can be nuisance of an open side flanker, as he scurried around the field fighting hard to turn ball over. Number eight, Henry Bromhall, began to up the anti for Glossop as he picked ball off the back of the scrum taking the fight to Mansfield. His efforts proved in vain as Mansfield kept the scoreboard ticking over with a series of tries exhibiting their array of qualities. A rolling maul, a pushed over scrum, and devastating running try from their number seven, who was by far man of the match.
Glossop put together one move of real quality and it resulted in their only try of the game. From the shortened lineout Howard found Bromhall as he gained pace and crashed into the Mansfield rearguard, a fast ruck saw the recycled ball into the hands of fly half Horbatchewski; he stepped, broke the line and off loaded expertly to the supporting Pickerell who went in under the posts.
Overall Glossop probably gave Mansfield too much respect in the first half; it wasn’t until the second that the Derbyshire team believed they could truly compete, but this proved too late.
The 2nd XV failed to take the points in their league game, so it was again left to the 3rd XV to restore some pride, winning at home against Hope Valley 1’s. They retain their 3rd placed league position and continue to put in stunning performances, having averaged five tries a game, conceding no points at home.