Mansfield bounce back to beat Bakewell Mannerians

An early scrum to the visitors saw them pushed off their own ball, the home team claim it as their own, put it through some hands and Brad Gizzard opening up the scoring. A missed conversion saw the Blue-and-Whites lead 5-0.

Twice in the early stages of the game Bakewell had penalty opportunities close to the Mansfield line and twice they were disrupted by a well-placed Mansfield hand.

Expansive play has been somewhat absent from the Blue-and-Whites this season as no surprise that Saturday’s game not only saw a bonus-point-securing four tries scored but all of them come from a more comprehensive approach to the game.

The second and third of these tries came before half-time with Eddie Simmons and Danny Wilkinson the beneficiaries.

Sweeping phases of play and some well-timed passes meant that there were far more options for the attacks to progress through.

Both tries were unconverted but the half-time score of 15-0 showed that there were riches to be claimed by opening up your style of attack.

The second half saw much of the same from the home team.

Bakewell were not going to lie down and let this game run away from them, however.

If Mansfield had discovered the possible opportunities out wide, that doesn’t mean that they were allowed to claim them all.