Mayfield Rugby League

01/12/2007 Mayfield 31 Castleford Panthers 14

01/12/2007 Mayfield 31 Castleford Panthers 14

By “Mad Mal The Mauler”

With the threatening rain staying away the pitch was in fair condition after the downpours of the last few days and was a good day for entertaining rugby! With only a couple of minutes gone Mayfield declined to take a shot for goal after a penalty award virtually in front of the posts and went for the tap, unfortunately coming to nought! Not to worry though on 12 minutes Chris Hilton finished off a smooth move to touch down in the right hand corner to take the lead that Mayfield wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. Steve Gartland took the kick from the touchline which just skimmed past the lefthand upright 4 – 0.

The next fifteen minutes it was end to end stuff with both sides just managing to keep the other at bay on the last tackles. Pete Draper almost stole in on his own grubber on 22 minutes just to be beaten by the deadball line.

On 25 minutes with the ball heaved along the line from left to right saw Chris Hilton bang down again in the right hand corner, this time converted by Mike Kaufman 10 – 0

With five minutes to go before the break saw some strange decisions by Mr Page after a blatant forward pass he gave a scrum on the ten metre line which led to several minutes sustained pressure on our own line, but stout defending held the Panthers at bay ending with their winger being stuffed into touch! Then Pete Draper was felled, but not held and got up to continue his run only to be penalised by the ref as he deemed the tackle complete. Cas then took the penalty kick to claw back two points 10 – 2. Justice was served a couple of minutes later when a break through midfield by Ben Naumatua got Ste Wood over in the left corner, Mike Kaufman couldn’t convert though which left the half time score 14 – 2 to Mayfield.

Four minutes into the second half, a good move down the right saw the last pass put down by Chris Hilton with the line begging and the next ten minutes saw both sides see-sawing from end to end with no scores to show for it! Then on 50 minutes a beautiful diagonal run from Mike Kaufman left the Cas defence for dead and he plonked the ball down for a well deserved try, then followed it up by kicking the two 20 – 2.

On 55 minutes Cas’s 13 was given a yellow for apparent gobbing and on his way to the dugout seemed to want to fight any of the pensioner’s in the stand and had to be restrained by their coaching staff! It has to be said the Panthers had a penchant for giving a fair few facials and head slaps during the game which the ref seemed to ignore except on the intervention of one of the TJ’s, but declined anything but a verbal rebuff to the offenders? It was a penalty on 60 minutes for yet another ‘facial massage’ that led to Ben Naumatua taking advantage after a quick tap and stealing in the far corner. Immediately yet another fracas kicked off in the in-goal, the ref was in danger of losing complete control of the game at this point!

Mayfield then had a quick forty winks on the restart when what looked like a Cas knock on was missed/ignored by Mr Page and the Panthers No8 Dave Birdsall weaved through to score next to the upright on 65 minutes with a quick conversion taking the score now to 24 – 8.

A couple of minutes later with Mayfield still having a nap the Panthers had their tails up and their No14 ran 55 metres through flailing hands for a great individual try under the sticks, quickly converted again, score now 24 – 14. Were the tables turning now with Mayfield seemingly losing concentration? Not on your Nellie, Man-of-the-Match and thorn in Cas’s side, Pete Draper, popped over a one pointer to steady the ship and bring the score to 25 – 14

Two minutes later after another drive into the Panthers half a beaut of a crossfield kick by Pete Draper was allowed to bounce by the Panthers and a grateful Chris Hilton completed his hat trick in the far right corner. Up stepped Ste Gartland to convert from the touchline to end the game 31 -14.

Mission accomplished in what essentially was a ‘four pointer’ with the forwards working tirelessly and backs working off their backs to make the Panthers look more like pussy cats!

Again this week the results from the other games worked generally in Mayfield’s favour putting us level on points with Skirlaugh and Wigan St Pats (who we play in two weeks) and seeing next weeks opponents Leigh Miners knocked off the top spot after losing to lowly West Hull.

A couple of good results could see Mayfield in the top three……’com on lads, you can do it!