The Stags welcomed Ilkeston to Leicester Road for their penultimate home game of the league season. Hinckley won the reverse fixture in November by 12 points, gaining a bonus point in the process, but Ilkeston drove us close, so we were expecting a tough encounter. The Stags made seven changes to the squad from the previous week, with Tom Robinson, Kristian Powell, Connor Nixon, Ben Pegler and James Moreton being called up to the 1st XV, Joe Hyett injured and Josh Leonard unavailable. This opened an opportunity for several of the stalwarts from the U23’s team to stake their claim for a Stags shirt.

Hinckley kicked off with a strong wind at their backs, but were unable to replicate the dominance that they had in the opening period against Southwell the week before. Ilkeston were well organised and forced the Stags into several errors that broke any momentum we could build. They also had plenty of possession of their own. The deadlock was broken after 20 minutes when Joe Barnes went in at the corner wide on the right. A penalty was kicked deep into the Ilkeston 22 by fly-half Lewis Gardner and when the line out was won Hinckley worked towards the posts with several strong drives. A wide pass from scrum-half Dylan Weddle then took the play the opposite way and Barnes held off two defenders to touch down in the corner. Gardner’s difficult conversion was blown wide, but Hinckley were finally on the scoreboard. 5-0.

The Stags didn’t have to wait long for their next score after Weddle’s excellent 50-22 gave us another line out deep in the Ilkeston 22. Craig Bresland broke away from the ensuing maul to drive over from short range to score for the second week running. Gardner’s well struck conversion got him up and running for the afternoon to take the score to 12-0.

5 minutes later Ilkeston registered their first try of the afternoon with an individual long range effort. Running a hard line off his fly-half about 30 metres out, the Ilkeston back rower broke through the first line of defence, rounded a covering defender and then drove through the final man in defence to score under the posts. The routine conversion was added and the scoreline read 12-7 in Hinckley’s favour.

The remainder of the first half was largely forgettable from a Hinckley point of view with several errors giving up decent field position. However, Tyler Moseley provided the highlight of the game with a fine try to stretch the Stags lead. The ball was moved to outside centre Sam Racklyeft, making his first Stags start of the season, off first phase ball - when he was held up by his opposite number he managed to offload to Gardner who found Moseley in space about 35 metres from the Ilkeston line. Moseley saw space in behind the defensive line, chipped through and won the footrace to ground the ball and score his third try in three matches. Gardner used the wind effectively to successfully kick the conversion, with help from the right hand upright. This took the score to 19-7, which is how it remained at the interval.

Steve Farrell replaced Craig Bresland at half-time, resulting in a reshuffle in the pack. Then disaster struck as Adam Groocock, making his return from a long term injury, saw yellow for impeding a quick tap penalty. Another reshuffle was needed and player-coach Steve Harvey took to the field in place of winger Alex Norris as we sacrificed a back to try and get parity in the scrum. This didn’t work, as the Hinckley scrum was driven backwards for Ilkeston to score their second converted try of the game. 19-14.

The Hinckley pack quickly made up for this indiscretion. When Gardner’s kick-off went out on the full, they won a scrum penalty on the halfway line that was to prove pivotal. Gardner’s deep kick led to a line out just outside the Ilkeston 22 and several penalties and line outs later, the Stags found themselves with the feed at a scrum 10 metres from the Ilkeston line. Sensing the try-scoring bonus point, Farrell picked up from the base and charged over the line, breaking 4 tackles in the process. Gardner again converted for a 26-14 lead. Norris and Groocock returned to the action shortly after this, with Ben Deacon leaving the field.

This was as good as it got for the Stags in terms of attack for the rest of the game as Ilkeston threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Hinckley for the final 25 minutes. Ilkeston struck back almost immediately when another kick-off wasn’t dealt with and Hinckley found themselves under pressure deep in their own territory. Ilkeston executed several pick and go’s close to the line and their hooker drove over close to the posts for their third try of the game, which was converted. 5 points was the difference with 20 minutes on the clock. The Stags didn’t really help themselves in this period, being guilty of overplaying in the wrong areas and failing to exit effectively. Tom Cox replaced Ben Bevan, who then returned to the field in place of Norris who picked up an injury.

Ilkeston could, and probably should, have scored during this period, after sustained pressure, but Hinckley’s scramble defence was excellent and kept their opponents at bay, just. The Stags showed huge heart and character to keep their noses in front, which is the main positive that we can take from this match. Ilkeston did get over the try line with almost the last play of the game, but the referee deemed that the Ilkeston player hadn’t placed the ball immediately when stretching out for the line and awarded Hinckley a penalty.
Gardner kicked for touch, the line out was won and the Stags kept hold of the ball for several phases before Weddle kicked the ball off the field to end the game.

The Stags were far from their best, but they were pushed all the way by a tough, well-drilled Ilkeston side, who were off the back of a 80 point victory the week before. However, this is exactly the type of game we needed heading into three away games against the other three teams in the top four. Our attention now turns to what could be the title decider this Saturday, away at Mellish.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Jacob Drabble had another excellent game, as did Adam Groocock on his return to the team, and Sam Racklyeft played well, making some hard yards. However, Tyler Moseley takes the accolade thanks to his well-taken try and an excellent offensive tackle, which was part of a consistent display in the back three.

UTS