Mayfield Rugby League

19/01/2008 Mayfield 68 Distington 6

19/01/2008 Mayfield 68 Distington 6

In the “BARLA NATIONAL CUP sponsored by ACE INSURANCE EUROPE - ROUND TWO”

By “Mad Mal The Mauler”

Mercifully the torrential rain of the last few days which saw Dale’s game against Bradford at Spotland cancelled held off and stayed fine for the duration of the game.

Credit must go to the ground staff Rod Rothwell and Paul Shanks for getting on top of the conditions!

With what most of us expected to be a fairly easy game for Mayfield the game started with an almighty shock when a Paul Rolls pass was intercepted in the first minute by Distington’s No 6 Scott George who dusted for the line with three or four Mayfield chasers in pursuit to gain first points in the corner. Unfortunately for Distington George couldn’t convert his own try 0 - 4

From the ensuing kick off Mayfield put the hammer down and contained Distington on their own line, when on the last play on 4 minutes George attempted to kick them out of trouble, but the ever vigilant Pete Draper was alert to the move and charged down the kick and swiftly followed it up with a touch down in the right hand corner. Tony Hilton attempted the difficult kick which slid wide 4 - 4

Two minutes later Mayfield’s restart into the corner was lost early in the tackle count and Mayfield worked the ball along the line to Ben Naumatua to touch down in the left corner. Tony Hilton again attempted the kick and again failed to hit the mark 8 – 4

There then came a 10 minute period of wayward passing and ball loss from Mayfield who appeared to be trying a little too hard instead of sticking to steady football. The game was stopped for a few minutes when Ben Eaton sustained a head injury!

On 15 minutes Distington were awarded a penalty for a deliberate elbow to the face on the floor, George stepped up to fire the kick over to reduce the arrears 8 – 6

Another attack from the kick off went almost all the way with the final pass from Matt Calland going way over Carl Abraham’s outstretched arms and into touch! It has to be said the first 20 minutes the completion rate by both sides was pretty bad, but there was a definite improvement thereafter!

On 22 minutes Steve Gartland broke through on Distington’s 40 metre line swerving past several defenders and slipped a corking pass to Ryan Douglas who showed great pace to get up in support and score! At this juncture Steve Gartland took over kicking duties and made the conversion 14 – 6

On 25 minutes Matt Calland’s turn came to make a brilliant break through who then off-loaded on the 20 metre line to Steve Gartland who was hauled down just a metre short. After a bit of a rushed play the ball a pass by Pete Draper was intercepted by that man again Scott George who took off as far as the halfway line before being dropped to relieve the pressure!

In the 30th minute a sustained attack was going nowhere with Distington defending resolutely until a neat grubber put Chris Hilton in the far corner. Garts this time just failed to convert 18 – 6

A couple of minutes later a beaut of a long cut out pass from Gartland found Ben Naumatua out wide for him to go over in the right hand corner, but with nobody deciding to oppose him he ran in to put it down under the cross bar to give Steve Gartland an easy two pointer 24 – 6

Only a minute later with some slick passing started by Calland ended in the hands of Paul Rolls who slid in for a well taken try. Garts put the kick over to make it 30 – 6

With half time looming another series of passes from right to left along the line of Mayfield attackers ended with Matt Calland chucking an outrageous dummy to his outside man only to cut back inside for a great touchdown under the sticks. Garts again slotted over the conversion. Half time score 36 – 6.

The second half continued in much the same vein with Mayfield now confident in almost everything the did and on 44 minutes a high cross field kick into the Distington in goal saw Mike Kaufman soar above the defenders to collect and dump the ball for a nice try in the corner! A conversion from the touchline by Steve Gartland just scraped over the bar 42 – 6

Another passage of attacking play from Mayfield in the 47th minute saw Ben Naumatua slot a pass to Ian Sampson who weaved his way through several defenders to score under the sticks giving Garts another easy two pointer 48 – 6

The 57th minute saw Pete Draper jinking his way through clutching hands to pass the ball for Paul Rolls to finish a sweet move again under the uprights, Garts must have thought it was his birthday with another two pointer 54 – 6

Distington it must be acknowledged, hadn’t lost heart although many a side would have given up and gone home by this time and showed it when they were unlucky not to score in the 60th minute when a grubber by No 6 George was smothered in-goal just in time. Mayfield then inexplicably tried a short kick from under the posts instead of hoofing it downfield and were lucky not to concede a score from Distington in the following couple of minutes with No 11 Mark Bowes going very close!

However Mayfield weathered the onslaught and worked the ball back deep into the opposition half keeping the ball alive with basketball type passing of which I lost count, but the final pass ended up in Carl Abraham’s hands and a try in the far right hand corner. Steve’s kick this time just ran out of steam short of the sticks 58 – 6

In the 70th minute Matt Calland flattened No12 Aiden Worthington after he apparently tried to head butt him, both saw the game out on the touchline getting a yellow apiece! On 75 minutes a move started by Mike Kaufman on the left saw him hare past two or three tiring Distington defenders to pass to Ryan Douglas in support (again) who took the ball to the 10 metre line and slipped it to Steve Gartland who then dummied the fullback and went in under the posts giving himself another easy conversion 64 – 6

To round things off another fine run by Mike Kaufman down the left wing to Distington’s 30 metre line off loading to Steve Gartland who put in a low kick across to the right hand corner saw Chris Hilton scoop up the ball a plonk it down for the last score of the game as Garts just failed in his conversion attempt. 68 – 6

Although the score suggests a hammering, Distington never gave up the ghost and their heads never dropped at any time, a credit to their club! No 6 Scott George, No 10 Paul Ash, No 11 Mark Bowes and No 17 Stephen Burns were outstanding in their work rate and commitment for Distington.

The Distington players and coaching staff were off for a well deserved night out in Wigan after the game so I hope they had a good ‘un?

Distington’s M.o.t.M . Scott George
Mayfield’s M.o.t.M. Ben Naumatua
Sponser’s M.o.t.M. Ben Naumatua