Mayfield Rugby League

05/04/2008 Hull Dockers 34 Mayfield 30

05/04/2008 Hull Dockers 34 Mayfield 30

By “Mad Mal The Mauler”

With showers of sleet and snow forecast the kick off was in bright sunshine with a brisk wind blowing down the field. After the first few minutes feeling each other out Paul Rolls decided to give the wind a test and hoisted a kick from Mayfield’s 30 metre line which caught the Dockers fullback out and sailed into touch well inside their 20, but referee Mr Stockman and his two henchmen totally ignored the 40/20 claims to give Hull the scrum, the first of many decisions to incense the watching Mayfield fans!

Mayfield recovered possession a couple of minutes later and Rolls slipped out a pass to Mike Kaufman who swerved his way past fullback Danny Ulyatt out wide and cut back to score under the sticks. Mike then knocked it over to convert his own try 0 - 6.

Dockers didn’t have to wait long and in the 11th minute a grubber from No8 Dave Fletcher beat the Mayfield defence and Ulyatt was quickest to react sweeping up the bobbling egg and diving in next to the post. No6 Chris Stephenson stepped up to convert and even up the score 6 – 6

Mayfield moved on with some good rugby and on 18 minutes Paul Rolls got on the end of a peach of a pass from Pete Draper to score under the cross bar. Kaufman easily converted. 6 – 12.

The next ten minutes saw some high shots with only a couple penalised. Rolls again tried to utilise the wind with a massive up and under which just beat Komah Naumatua over the dead ball line! However, barely a minute later, another brilliant pass from Rolls found Kaufman haring past at full tilt on the 30 metre line to score unopposed under the sticks once more. Mike again adding the two to make it 6 – 18.

The 29th minute saw a great passage of play starting in Mayfield’s half with Steve Wood breaking and handing on to Rolls who in turn found Grant Bithel to touch down at the side of the post, again Kaufman slotted it over 6 - 24

With no further action to speak of the half time whistle went with Mayfield looking to be cruising!

With 5 minutes gone Hull clearly dropped the ball, but no knock on given and Jon Eccles unloaded to Danny Ulyatt to pick up his second try of the day. Stephenson again added to extras 12 – 24.

On 50 minutes Hull gave the ball a mighty whack from their 35 to find touch for a 40/20 which ALL the officials saw this time! From the scrum a wild pass from No13 Chris Batty went to ground and should have been recovered by Mayfield, but some sloppy handling gave Hull the ball and this time Batty found No18 Matthew Emerson crashing over Ryan Douglas who then fell under the feet of Andy Reid bringing him down and unable to tackle Emerson who gratefully whipped in under the post. Stephenson taking the extra two 18 – 24

Mayfield were again in the Hull 20 but failed to complete the set turning over the ball, Dockers No4 Paul Taylor banged a huge kick downfield and after getting possession of the ball Batty again found the powerful Emerson on the fly to register his second in 6 or 7 minutes. Stephenson again improving to square up the score at 24 – 24.

In the 68th minute Pete Draper found space through the Hull line and broke with Ben Heaton in support passing to him 30 metres out where Ben snaked his way past the last line of defence for a try next to the post. Kaufman again easily converted 24 – 30.

Dockers again came forward and on 72 minutes saw Stephenson slot a kick through for Danny Ulyatt to sweep in and complete his hat trick. Stephenson again converting! All square again 30 – 30.

The last few minutes saw Hull back on the attack. On 78 minutes Stephenson found No2 Phillip Elbourne out wide to dive in the left corner. This time Stephenson couldn’t improve 34 – 30. Time then ran out to leave Hull Dockers jubilant and Mayfield wondering just what went pear shaped in the second half?

Credit must go to Hull who obviously had something to prove in the last game of their season.

There was no announcement for M.o.t.M. but in the Dockers Ulyatt, Stephenson, Batty and Emerson were outstanding.

Mayfield’s lads played superbly in the first half, but seemed to lose their way but the forwards Harmer. Hilton, Reid, Brett and Muir were tireless and Draper, Bithel and Kaufman excelled, but Paul Rolls was on fire! On another day Mayfield could have run up a cricket score.

Next week sees Oulton Raiders visit Mayfield for the last game of the league fixtures before the play-offs commence.

Now there is only Wigan St Pats who can pip Siddal to the last play-off spot where they have to beat top-of-the-heap East Hull on their own patch, a big ask, it looks like we have our top six now barring miracles?