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Mannerians' mistakes cost them dearly
Midlands Three East (North) Coalville 44-26 Mannerians
Coalville won this tense fixture by exactly the same margin as in the clubs' pre-Christmas encounter, and in many ways it was a similar kind of game.
Mannerians' pack utterly dominated the forward set pieces but, too often, mistakes in key areas gifted possession to the dangerous Coalville backs.
A number of Mannerian backs were carrying injuries and illnesses – indeed in an ideal world both George Hutchinson and Rob Wells would have sat the game out to recuperate - but that is not to take away anything from the exquisite lines of running, pace and power that Coalville produced.
They would have been a challenge no matter what. The forwards suffered an early setback when young debutant Ben Hopkinson was forced from the field by an outrageous punch that sadly went unnoticed by the referee.
This brought an earlier-than-planned call to action for the delicate Chris Westwood, making his first foray into the forwards as he begins his inexorable journey towards his destiny in the front row.
It was Mannerians that made the early running, and when Captain Ed Hutchinson spotted a gap and burst through it, Brother George and his centre partner Rob Wells were on hand to put full back Jack Duncan in for the try.
They continued to dominate for the first quarter of the game until the home side settled.
Coalville then struck back quickly – twice - after turnover ball in open play gave their backs room to run.
The missed tackles in Mannerian ranks were inexplicable and uncharacteristic and the home side was able to take the lead with comparative ease.
Mannerians struck back before the interval after the pack shoved Coalville off their own scrum, Paul Webster heeled the ball back neatly and Henry Bagshawe picked and ploughed over from number eight.
The next quarter was Mannerians' shabbiest; they seemed content to let Coalville run at them, and a couple more mistakes enabled the home side to build a firm lead.
Then Mannerians' confidence returned. Will Moroney came on for a poorly Duncan and Martin Pearce replaced Paul Webster.
The two veterans had been involved in a Very Busy Day on the Friday, celebrating the wedding of Mannerians' legend AJ Hall, but proved capable between them of helping the front five demolish Coalville's tight effort.
Max Crampton and David Greagsby were in electrifying form, Ethan and Henry Bagshawe a constant menace and Tom Elsworth was back to approaching his best.
Number eight Bagshawe added his second try of the game as Coalville were repeatedly punished by the Bakewell scrum, then came the best score of the day.
A real team effort saw eight or nine phases of efficient rucking, quick ball and threatening backs.
Tom Oldfield injected some pace up the centre, David Boam and Tom Spencer popped up time and again in the move, and it was fitting that a forward should be on hand to finish – this time the powerhouse Michael Clegg.
Captain Hutchinson’s conversion – his third of the day – was the last play of a match that saw the skipper and Coach Weeks pleased with their side’s strong finish – but ruing unforced errors in the middle of the game.
Mannerians: Duncan (Moroney W 44); Oldfield T, Wells, Hutchinson G, Elsworth; Hutchinson E (Capt), Bagshawe E; Crampton, Webster (Pearce 54), Greagsby, Spencer, Clegg, Boam, Hopkinson (Westwood 4), Bagshawe H
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Weather for Bakewell
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
