Now, this seriously was a Season Defining performance!

Mavericks 10 – 5 Prenton

Now, this seriously was a Season Defining performance!

With Prentons’ 1st team without a fixture this week, it was obvious that this was not going to be a true 3rd team fixture.
Prenton turned up at Malone Field with a bolstered squad. The Mavericks, put together after a few injuries/ unavailabilities, and with some returning players & a new face took to the field. Captain Tim called everyone together before the kick-off & made the point that Prenton had the same sort of results as the Mavericks, and that this was the scalp he was looking for. “This game is the result I want from the season, this game will define the Mavericks season, we need to pull together”.
After losing the toss, the Mavericks were playing with the slope in the first half, and accepting the kick. Prenton kicked off & immediately put pressure on the Mav’s line. This was going to be a game that the Mavericks knew they were in. With big runners, Prenton made early ground, forcing the Mavericks onto the back foot. Most of the first 10 minutes was played in the Mavericks 22, with some fantastic tackling from the Mav’s backline denying Prenton any ground. To a man, the Mavericks were tackling anything & everything that Prenton could throw at them, including the big runners at No.8 & their Centres. Eventually, the pressure told & Prenton put a good passage of play together & went over in the corner after 15 minutes. Conversion missed, scoreline 0-5.
20 minutes in, Gordon Rogers made a huge defensive hit on Prentons’ threatening winger, which resulted in a broken nose & him leaving the pitch. Enter stage right… Charlie Hall making his first appearance for the Mavericks. And what a performance it was. Small he may be, but he does not mess about at the tackle area. Countless times throughout the game he put his body on the line, making first up or last ditch tackles, as well as turnovers at the break-down. Matt Moscrop moved into fly-half & gave good ball for the backs to use.
The rest of the first half was to & fro, with both sides putting pressure on each other. The Mavericks were starting to dominate the line-out through Chris Wildman, who was brilliant at the set piece, as well as round the park, & Willo was taking ball against the head at the scrum. All of this gave the Mavericks good ball to use. But in some circumstances the ball possession was not utilised to full advantage. Andy Smith & Lee Jones commanded the middle of the park, running hard and tackling up early. Dan Jenner came into the line & made some last ditch tackles when required. Half time score remained 0-5 to Prenton.
After the turnaround, the Mavericks kicked off and immediately tried to put pressure on Prentons’ forwards. From a set piece turnover, the Mav’s spread the ball wide through the backs who made great yardage up field. The forwards secured the ball at the resultant ruck, and quick hands got the ball to Andy Smith to crash through Prentons’ defence & score under the posts. Dan Jenner converted, scoreline 7-5 after 55 minutes.
The Mavericks then kept up the momentum, and forced the game to be played in Prentons’ half for the next 10 minutes. An indiscretion by Prenton at the breakdown, gifted the Mavericks a penalty in front of the posts, 20 yards out. Dan Jenner again stepped up to slot the 3 points, scoreline 10-5, 65 minutes.
The remainder of the match was played with Prenton exerting great pressure on the Mavericks line, through their big runners. Only through a team effort on the tackle front could the Mavericks stay in the match. Notable hits by Ollie Taylor & Charlie Hall, kept the scoreline favourable. Several penalties conceded near their own line heaped pressure on the Mavericks, and again some outstanding tackling was the difference on the day.
At the final whistle 10-5 to the Mavericks.
This was the result that was required by, and delivered to Captain Tim.
The notables were the younger players who all tackled fearlessly.
On the scoresheet: Andy Smith 1, Dan Jenner penalty, Dan Jenner conversation.
Man of the Match: For his performance at full back, his superb effort in attack & defence & his kicking ability, Dan Jenner is Man of the Match. Well done Dan.

Thanks to Martin for officiating superbly.
Thanks to Prenton for the game, and good luck for the rest of the season.