In front of a good crowd including Jonathan Djanogly, MP for Huntingdon, Stags produced arguably their best 40 minutes of rugby of the season in the second half, scoring 24 points without reply, thereby taking an important step towards securing their place in Midlands 3 next season.
All is not cut and dried, however. Stags, Casuals [who lost on Saturday], and Men’s Own [who won at Daventry] all have 11 points, though Stags have comfortably the best points difference. Stags have to play Men’s Own away and Towcestrians at home. Men’s Own also have two fixtures, the other one being at home to Ampthill. Casuals have one match left, away at Leicester Forrest. Anything could happen.
Against the wind, Stags started brightly, a Damien Whales penalty fairly reflecting the early balance of play. S and L came back, though, with some enterprising back play and it was no real surprise when their winger finished off an incisive break by standoff Andy Beattie which, added to an earlier penalty, gave the visitors and 8 – 3 lead at half time. Stags would probably have settled for this at the interval, having had to reorganise when Ben Strangeways went off injured and having defended for much of the half the back row in particular doing good work in keeping S and L out.
The second half was a different story entirely as Stags dominated all phases. Early on, though, when Ben Crean lost the ball just short of the line and Neil Welsh lost his support on the opposition 22 after a clean break, Stags supporters were beginning to fear that this would be yet another instance of territory and possession without points.
Their nerves were calmed when quick ball enabled Whales to send a long pass to Welsh who bisected the S and L centres for a superficially simple yet well executed try. Stags were now bossing both tight and loose play enabling Whales time after time to kick deep into S and L territory. From one of the resulting line outs Selim Sheik stole the opposition throw in and plunged over. There was further joy for Stags as forward pressure enabled Tim Furbank to get the final touch down. Whales converted all three tries and kicked a second penalty. S and L had barely entered Stags territory for 40 minutes, so much had the home side been in control.
Stags must now reflect on all the things they did right in the second half and start the vital game at Men’s Own on 14 April in the frame of mind to continue exactly where they left off last Saturday.
