Sat 17 Feb 2024, 14:15
Preparation was far from ideal. Stags, already missing several players were dealt late blows when Captain Wayne Bradley and Barnie West were ruled out on the morning of the game, meaning a re-arranged squad made the trip to Dunstablians.
Stags needn’t have worried, as they turned in possibly their most complete performance of the season to record a 46-24 point win.
Stags were on the offensive early, and a flowing move down the right wing saw Jamie Gunn break through a gap and scamper clear. The cover defence looked to have him covered but he broke free again and went under the posts for the opening score. Joe Hicken kicked the extras.
Stags were quickly back onto attack, and were awarded a scrum five yards out. The green army pack, who had the upper hand at set piece all day, drove the host scrum back allowing debutant Jed Adkins to score. Again, Hicken kicked the conversion.
From another dominant scrum, and a win against the head, Roger Shakespeare darted away to score. Hicken added the extras and a further penalty goal and Stags were cruising at 24-0.
As has often been the case this season, Stags let their foot off the gas, and the two scores before half time were to the hosts. Neither conversion was made, and Stags had a 24-10 lead at the break.
Turning into a blustery wind, Stags knew that a good start and the first score in the second spell was key. They were not to be denied, when another scrum win against the head allowed Adkins to break from the back and a simple “right-oh” move to captain for the day Jack Skidmore saw the scrum half dot down. Hicken kept his one hundred percent kicking record intact with the conversion.
Hicken kicked a further penalty and hooker Seth Muggeridge scored from a fine lineout catch and drive, and the game was all but over at 39-10 with only ten minutes remaining.
Stags big pack started to fatigue, which allowed Dunstablians two further tries, both of which were converted, to restore some parity on the scoreboard. A late try and conversion from Hicken, taking his points tally on the day to 21, was the icing on the cake of a very good all round performance.
Coach Leader was ecstatic with the result, saying “I am ecstatic with the result.
“It could well of been our best performance of the season.
“There were several ‘fringe’ players who had an opportunity today and they have clearly taken it which will certainly give me a selection headache in coming weeks but that’s a better headache that a red wine one.
“Our man of the match goes to Rog? It’s a tall order taking loads of kick offs when you are the shortest bloke on the field but he did very well.
Our big, tall boys up front – The Adkins brothers, Seth, Bodge etc – gave us a great platform but Rog was great on attack and defence so deserves the award.
Stags Captain Jack Skidmore praised his forwards, saying “it makes life as a scrum half much easier when the forwards are so dominant like today.
“The forwards carried well and that created space out wide for the backs, it’s a simple but effective gameplan and we executed that well today.
“also, that’s two from two for me in the armband this season, so I will probably need to give my brother in law a few pointers when he is back from injury” chuckled Skidmore.
Stags next match is this coming Saturday when they travel to Thorney for a Hunts and Peterborough Cup tie.
