Mayfield Rugby League

08/03/2008 Mayfield 10 Barrow 30

08/03/2008 Mayfield 10 Barrow 30

By “Mad Mal The Mauler”

Today Barrow Raiders came with what was understood to be their strongest side with Mick Cassidy taking Mayfield extremely seriously! He was to be proved right in his estimation! With some isolated showers forecast and the pitch in great condition a competitive game was anticipated?

Within the first minute a Steve Gartland kick into the left corner was followed up by an enthusiastic chase catching the Raiders defender and forcing him over in goal for a drop out under the post, Mayfield return with the ball and Pete Draper was unfortunate to lose the ball under the attention of a brace of Barra boys on the 5 metre line. The gauntlet had been thrown down with some determination!

With the Raider moving up field the referee Mr Thomason started with what seemed to be a series of unending penalties that last the full 80 minutes? Two consecutive penalties took Barrow very close, but a knock-on on the left side of the attack brought them to a halt. Barrow then put several concerted attacks on the Mayfield line only to be kept at bay by some sterling defence to eventually get the ball back. Mayfield worked their way towards the halfway where Janan Billings broke away only to be hauled down just short of the Raiders try line!

On 11 minutes Mayfield got a penalty 15 metres out for a high shot on Nuamatua, but declined to take the two and decided to run the ball? Nothing came off this play except a second penalty for Barrow reaping the ball loose 25 metres out, this time Mayfield opted for the field goal, but Paul Rolls attempt just slid wide in the gusting wind.

15 minutes saw a lovely move with Pete Draper passing a slick pass to Paul Rolls who quickly found Steve Gartland at full tilt taking the pass and smashing his way over the whitewash for the first score of the game. Rolls couldn’t make the 2 though 4 – 0.

Mayfield looked confident and in the 18th minute were again pressing forward when Dave Harmer was flattened in a tackle then received three plainly observed punches to the face and one retaliatory dig back found him despatched to the sin bin for 10 minutes! Barely two minutes later after another altercation three successive penalties from Mr Thomason saw Barrow 70 metres to the good and on Mayfield’s doorstep ending with James Finch squeezing in at the corner? Matt Ashe aided to convert the kick 4 – 4

This seemed to sting Mayfield into even more action and on 25 minutes, after some superb interplay saw Ryan Douglas take a great pass on the fly to dodge through the Barrow defence and plant the ball at the side of the upright. This time Rolls made no mistake in adding the extras 10 – 4.

Barrow immediately tried to respond with a flowing attack down their right and Mayfield chasing back in pursuit, the last pass collected by Pat Weisner looked a certain try as he went over the try line, but Steve Gartland somehow hauled him down and turned him on his back in one movement to deny him! Brilliant stuff!

Gartland again dug deep on 33 minutes breaking through on the halfway line only to be brought down inches short of the Barrow line.

Another Mayfield attack just failed from a Billings chip which he was just beaten to by fullback Andy Beattie with nobody else behind, tough luck!

Half time was almost on us when yet another penalty went against Mayfield for an alleged elbow on the deck which took Barrow right up to Mayfield’s line, a series of passes from left to right found Michael Backhouse diving over right in the corner, but although it looked like he’d lost the ball the try was indicated. Then there was a flurry of punches between several players, over what I’m not sure! Ashe wasn’t able to convert and seconds after the re-start the half time whistle went 10 – 8.

Within the 1st minute of the second half Pete Draper charged down a Raiders kick to put them on the back foot once again until a Billings pass across the face of the posts went to ground for Barrow to recover the ball and chase off into Mayfield’s half. Mayfield did recover the ball, but yet another penalty, this time for moving off the spot gave Barrow a chance to even the score? Ashe again fluffed the chance! Getting the ball back Barrow pressed the line and a neat grubber was collected by Rob Kershaw in goal, but unfortunately he was collected by a couple of burly forwards and returned in goal! From the drop out Barrow finally showed some finesse and some slick passing out to the left found Michael Backhouse once more to dive over in the corner again. Ashe once again missed the conversion 10 -12

Although there had been a few showers during the game up to now in the 50th minute the heavens opened in biblical proportions making handling very difficult and when Mayfield got a penalty for an elbow applied on the floor Paul Rolls couldn’t make the difficult two pointer into the teeth of the gale that was now raging?

Mayfield again looked to get over the Barrow line in the 56th minute, but Martin Ostler picked up the ball and broke up field. Jamie Nixon on his outside took his pass to race a full 60 metres to put the ball under the black dot. This time Pat Weisner made no mistake and added the two 10 – 18

Mayfield almost conceded another try from Nixon on 60 minutes, but the final pass was a mile forward! However with Mayfield visibly tiring from their sterling efforts only three minutes later Lee Dutton blasted over and under the crossbar from close range and Weisner again adding the two 10 – 24

Virtually from the re-start the ball went out to the Barrow left finding Nixon once more saw him sprint 40 metres slipping the ball to Ostler on his inside who couldn’t be stopped? Weisner doing the honours again to make it 10 – 30.

These two quick fire tries finally killed Mayfield off, but although extremely tired to their credit played their hearts out against a semi-pro D2 side and a diabolical referee in Mr Thomason who seemed to have a determination to spoil what could have been a very entertaining and close contest? The final score flattered Barrow and I think Mick Cassidy breathed a huge sigh of relief after this game as did the Barrow board in the stand! Fair play to Barrow, it wasn’t their doing with the officiating and they deserved their win in the long run. Good luck to them in the next round, unless they draw Hornets (providing they beat York Acorn tomorrow?)

A big well done to the Mayfield lads who, especially in the first half, gave Barrow a lot to think about? Several of the lads looked like they’d been fighting in the UFC with their battle scars.

Now it’s time to make sure we hold our position in the top six in the Premier League for the play-offs. With Leigh East beating Siddal 20 – 2 today it looks like 4 points out of the last 4 games will see us safely in that spot. Let’s start next week at home with a win against Thornhill Trojans. Get there to give them your support!

Mayfield M.o.t.M. Ben Nuamatua
Barrow M.o.t.M. Bret Law

Match Sponsor, Murphy’s Haulage M.o.t.M. Janan Billings