Mayfield Rugby League

01/03/2008 Ince Rose Bridge 15 Mayfield 10

01/03/2008 Ince Rose Bridge 15 Mayfield 10 (after extra time)

BARLA NATIONAL CUP sponsored by ACE INSURANCE EUROPE – QUARTER FINALS

By “Mad Mal The Mauler”

After last night’s gales and driving rain at least the rain held off, but the wind was howling the length of the pitch. Winning the toss Mayfield elected to take advantage and played with the wind! I say “advantage” loosely as it was virtually not used at all to the amazement of the spectators present!

Ince Rose turned out a side of huge proportions and their obvious strategy was to intimidate and get very physical from the off.

IRB almost put the first points on the board when second row Dave Ashton was stopped inches short of the Mayfield line after a determined run through a bevy of defenders. On the following play the ball Pete Draper picked up a wayward pass out wide slipping the Ball to Ben Naumatua who scarpered a full 90 metres along the right touchline avoiding then out-pacing the IRB tacklers and chasers to score a wonderful try 10 metres in. Mike Kaufman stepped up and kicked a superb conversion considering the howling gale that could have taken it anywhere on the park? 0 – 6

This seemed to be the starting pistol for many high shots that were either unseen or just ignored by the referee and his two young lady t.j.’s who should have gone shopping rather than been involved in such an important fixture? Steve Gartland suffered a brutal shot which saw him helped off the meadow to recover, being replaced by Janan Billings. On 17 minutes a decision to award a penalty to IRB for alleged holding after the tackle gave them the shot at goal which sailed wide and justice prevailed!

Many more crunching tackles came from the huge IRB forwards and after one on Chris Brett he was plainly heard to say “ Is that the best you have?” I think they decided to up it a bit more then, not the intensity, the height of the tackles?

27 minutes saw IRB’s scrum half Tony Baker put in a lovely grubber and eluding a couple of Mayfield defenders collected it himself then heaved it quickly out wide for No4 Ryan Maloney to nip in to put IRB on the score sheet. Danny Rigby however couldn’t get enough on his kick into the gale and it died well short. 4 – 6

On 31 minutes the Mayfield line again was under the cosh, but an over clever American Football type pass behind through the passers legs was intercepted by Pete Draper who fired off up field relieving the situation!

Just a minute later a Paul Rolls 40/20 wasn’t seen by any of the three stooges and the head and feed was given to IRB…pathetic! To add insult to injury, or, should that be the other way round? Mike Kaufman copped a very late knee in the small of his back after the tackle was complete and had to withdraw, replaced by Neil Ramsden, again the three blind mice saw nothing?

34 minutes saw big Josh Peacock bullocking his way through on the IRB 20 and slipping a great off-load to Billings made it almost to the line where he tossed the ball back to Josh who would have undoubtedly scored except a forward pass was given?

In the 37th minute Neil Ramsden recovered a loose ball in the Mayfield 20 and was brought down by the giant Neanderthal Andy Eatock and with Rammy on his back hugging the ball Eatock proceeded to give him a Rhinoplasty by repeatedly punching Rammy’s hooter. Hallelujah!!! The ref actually saw, and acted, on this and gave a straight red card! On the stroke of half time the lady t.j. hoisted her red flag for a high shot on an IRB player giving them the chance to even up the score on the board, but Rigby again sliced it wide and the whistle sounded!

With the wind at their backs now IRB proceeded to do what Mayfield should have done in the first half and put kicks in to turn Mayfield around giving field position and only 5 minutes into the half it paid off with Tony Baker again sliding a neat grubber into the left corner where Rob Kershaw opted to try to pick up the bobbling egg which somehow went both through his hands and his legs for the alert IRB No4 Ryan Maloney to pounce and get downward pressure on the ball right in the angle of the corner. Again Rigby couldn’t improve from out on the touchline 8 – 6

In the 50th minute with Mayfield pressing on the IRB 20 after a Ste Wood break, Paul Rolls hoisted a kick to the far corner that was well collected under pressure by fullback Dave Bullough who brought it away.

With Ryan Douglas off injured the Mayfield bench was now down to only one interchanged and although IRB were down to 12 men on the field they had the full use of the four interchanges which was probably more advantageous giving their big men chance to take a break?

On 54 minutes the ref gave IRB another penalty after what appeared to be something said by a Mayfield player following a decision for a forward pass. IRB gratefully accepted the shot at goal and extended their lead to 10 – 6

This seemed to inject a little of what had been missing from Mayfield’s resolve and an attacking move down the left touchline as far as the IRB 20 the saw a change of direction with several passes right across the park to finally land in the hands of Rob Kershaw who squeezed in at the corner flag. This time Steve Gartland had the kicking duty from the touch line into the teeth of the gale and would have needed a howitzer to get it anywhere near? 10 – 10

60 minutes saw yet another gaff from the fiddler’s three when a Ste Gartland kick was charged down and into touch by an IRB player and with the t.j. barely six feet away head and feed was awarded to IRB. The Mayfield supporters by this time were blowing a gasket! Again after several minutes of intense pressure with IRB floundering this joker of a referee penalised Billings for moving off the mark barely a metre off the IRB line enabling them to hoof the ball 50 metres up field and out of danger?

With time running out Steve Gartland’s attempt at a drop goal went under the sticks and then a minute or so later Paul Rolls attempt at a one pointer was charged down! The whistle went for full time with the teams deadlocked at 10 – 10.

The see-sawing continued after the restart and an IRB kick was charged down on the half way line, but the bounce just scraped Danny Chrimes clutching fingers for a knock on, had he collected the ball there was no one home and he would have easily gone the 50 metres to score?

From the scrum IRB worked the ball across to their left and on the last play got across the whitewash but on his back with the tackle complete he continued and put the ball down! The try was disallowed for the double movement.

With the first period of extra time almost up Mayfield got a rare penalty on the half way line and opted to run the ball instead of attempting the field goal with the strong wind behind which puzzled all the Mayfield fans to say the least? A few seconds later the period ended!

With only two minutes of the second period gone IRB fullback Bullough attempted a drop goal but was charged down by Janan Billings who came out of the line like a rocket, but only a couple of plays later on 3 minutes Bullough did slot over a drop goal to take IRB in front 11 – 10

Mayfield now seemed to run out of ideas and really didn’t make any more serious inroads into the IRB half and it looked like the one point would be enough for IRB to take the game, but in the last seconds of the game Bullough put Maloney in at the right hand corner to seal the victory, Rigby being unable to convert from out wide. Final score 15 – 10.

Although the Ince Rose Bridge heavy handed tactics were allowed to continue by this abysmal official (I couldn’t find out his name) and his two very inexperienced lady touch judges, they got the result by side-lining three key Mayfield players giving very little options on our bench. It’s hard to put one’s finger on why our tactics seemed totally wrong, should have been obvious when playing with the wind at our backs against a side of big men. IRB used it to good effect though when at their backs?

A disappointing day for all concerned especially when it transpired that Wigan St Pats had gone down at East Hull. Had we won an away tie at Wath Brow Hornets would have been the reward in the semi-final.

I don’t know who got M.o.t.M for either side, but Paul Rolls, Janan Billings or Pete Draper must have been in the frame?

A final word comes from ALL our Aussie lads as tomorrow 2nd March is Mother’s Day in the U.K.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO OUR MUM’S DOWNUNDER
LUV FROM YOUR BOYS and GIRLS UP HERE!
Janan, Mike, Paul, Thomas (Pete), Josh, Jonathon, Ryan, Dave, Candice & Amber
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P.s. I don’t have a Mum so Happy Mum’s Day from me too