Milton Keynes turns the tables on the Stags

Milton Keynes was able to turn the tables on the Stags last Saturday. This was the reverse outcome to the home result earlier in the season when Stags beat MK in the closing minutes of the game. Phil Powell managed to do this away from home with the final kick of the match - he converted a penalty allowing MK to win by a single point.

Early in the match Newbury dictated the game with MK struggling to get hold of the ball. After ten minutes the Stags had a 5 metre scrum but failed to win the ball with good work from the MK pack and hooker Rob Conway. This gave MK the impetuous to take greater control of the game.

It was MK first on the scoreboard. After some 15 minutes the ball was taken from a lineout and dropped down to Ashley Target, who had a good game, replacing the unavailable Dan Pearson. The ball was shipped out to the backs and Dave Matthews made a powerful break before passing to Steve Datchworth who scored close to the posts. Phil Powell converted making the score 0 – 7.

MK produced some good rugby but were let down by some poor finishing. By the end of the first half they could have been 20 points ahead.
It was with just a few minutes of the first half left that MK lost concentration allowing a Newbury attack to break through some slack defence which resulted in a score under the posts which was duly converted.

The Stags were the ones to do most of the defending in the second half. Despite this MK weren’t able to convert their domination into points.

The Stags kicker had a poor day, which was fortunate for MK. Two simple penalty kicks were missed but Phil Powell made the most of the penalty opportunities awarded to MK. He put the ball between the posts to put them in the lead by just 3 points.

Despite Stags now playing with scraps they managed to score a further try giving them a lead of 12 – 10.

It looked as though MK were to lose a game which they should have won when, in the last minute of the game the referee awarded MK a penalty in a kickable position. Phil Powell coolly converted the penalty at which time the referee blew for the end of the game.

MK visit Amersham and Chiltern next Saturday which will be a tough encounter being 2nd in the league.

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