Mayfield Rugby League

19/04/2008 Leigh East 16 Mayfield 21

19/04/2008 Leigh East 16 Mayfield 21 (A.E.T.)

By “Mad Mal The Mauler”

Today saw two teams who were promoted from D1 last year and in some quarters were expected to go straight back down again? The two sides have proved their pedigree in the Premiere Division by ending the regular season in 4th and 5th respectively and both were determined to progress to the next round of the play-offs.

With the brisk wind at their backs Leigh were first to threaten in the 3rd minute trying to use the wind with a stab through kick which just had too much on it and went out of play! Having taken the ball into the Leigh half using their set ended with Rob Kershaw held up to be denied on the last!

Leigh’s turn to take the ball towards the halfway and a long kick down field was collected by Mayfield fullback Jack Sampson who returned almost to the half way where he copped the first of a high number of high shots in the game! From the tap the ball was taken into the Leigh 20 where Pete Draper worked a beaut run around to recollect the ball, bamboozling the defence to slip in for the first score of the game. Mike Kaufman’s trusty boot gaining the extras! 0 – 6 only 6 minutes gone!

The score stung Leigh into more action and they pressed forward on the Mayfield line for the following 5 minutes finishing with No1 Mark Kay combining with Carl Redford to squeeze in the right corner to open Leigh East’s account. From out wide with a swirling wind Dave Radley was unable to add the two. 4 – 6.

On 13 minutes another kick over the top was taken by Jack Sampson who again scooted back from deep to the 30 metre line. Mayfield took the ball forward and on the fifth tackle Janan Billings was stopped inches short.

Back came East with a great set taking them deep into Mayfield territory, but yet again the final kick was mis-judged and sailed out!

17 minutes with Mayfield again threatening, Billings slipped a grubber through only to see Josh Peacock denied with referee Jason Page disallowing his effort!

In the 21st minute Leigh scrum half Ryan Peters was helped off the field with what appeared to be a knee injury?

On 27 minutes Mayfield took the sensible option when a holding down penalty was awarded 25 metres out and Kaufman increased Mayfield’s lead to 4 – 8.

In the 32 minute with Leigh pressing Paul Rolls took an interception virtually on Mayfield’s line and was only stopped by a swinging arm to get a relieving penalty!

On 34 minutes Chris Brett went down in what appeared to be an innocuous tackle, but the reaction of Lee Hanson told us something else? Brett had dislocated his ankle! Thankfully it went back in, but Chris’s day was over!

Not long before half time, Leigh thundered back at Mayfield with No14 Chris Eccles, No3 Carl Radford and No6 Danny Kilshaw combining and stretching Mayfield to their limit, but they tenaciously defended for two consecutive sets to keep the marauding East’s out. With seconds to go Kilshaw flattened Tony Hilton with a high shot and was given 10 minutes in the bin to reflect on his actions! Half time 4 – 8 and nothing in it, all to play for.

With the wind now in Leigh’s faces they used local knowledge to restart with the first of several 10 metre high kick offs which most of them the ball was recovered by Leigh!

In the 45th minute a run from dummy half by Billings almost caught Leigh out and he was again stopped inches short, but holding on too long cost Leigh a penalty easily converted by Kaufman to extend the lead 4 – 10.

Again Leigh recovered the ball from the short kick off, but somehow their hooker John Taylor was injured and was carried off?

Mayfield came close once again when Billings weaved his way past a trio of defenders passing to Calland and on to Rob Kershaw who was brought up short by determined defending!

In the 62nd minute on the last tackle Mayfield conceded a needless penalty giving Leigh an extra couple of plays which ended with Danny Kilshaw whipping in from the play the ball for a fine opportunist try. This time Dave Radley slotted over to make it 10 – 10. Game on again!

67 minutes Kaufman broke down the right side only to be laid out by another high tackle. Only two minutes later Jack Sampson got the same treatment and from 38 metres Kaufman attempted a field goal which was batted down by a Leigh defended only 6 or 7 metres away, another penalty nearer goal, but no card for the offence? This time Mike made sure with a superb kick to regain the lead 10 – 12.

Again Leigh collected the ball from the restart, much to the annoyance of the watching Mayfield fans?

With 77 minutes gone Leigh went into a frantic passage of passing more in keeping with a basket ball game, from one side of the field to the other several times with manic defending from Mayfield. Pete Draper came off his line like a greyhound to intercept a pass, but Mr Page gave him offside? Dave Radley gratefully took the two to level the game 12 - 12.

Knowing there was only a few seconds left in the game Leigh opted for a field goal attempt from 40+ meters out on the right after another penalty against Mayfield, but the kick stalled in the wind and the whistle sounded!

3 minutes into the first period of extra time Mayfield were almost on the Leigh line when Matt Calland tried an overhead basketball type pass out to Jonathon Petty, but the lanky Leigh No 5 Leon Brennan was head and shoulders above everyone else and took the ball to relieve the situation!

After a couple of passes took Leigh to their 35 metre line a huge kick downfield was just saved being a 40/20 by Jack Sampson right on the touchline. Had that gone over it could have been the game, but again he ran it back to the 30! Mayfield took the ball back toward the Leigh line and on the 5th tackle with every Mayfield speccie screaming for a drop goal Billings got the ball to Draper who pivoted out of the tackle to go in for his second of the game. Kaufman’s attempt was driven wide by the wind! 12 -16. Nail biting stuff for both sets of fans now!

Mayfield were now playing the best football of the day and seemed to get a second wind? After Leigh No11 Mark Starkie knocked on, Billings again came4 up just short after some ferocious Leigh defending, but the cool Paul Rolls took the one point option on the last with a cracking drop goal. 12 – 17. End of 1st period!.

From the restart Mayfield actually got the ball this time and took it down field with Grant Bithel ending up short of the line!

With a quick play the ball in the 4th minute, Ryan Douglas broke through to hand on to Sampson who slipped a peach of a pass to Kaufman who stepped over the line to cheekily lower the ball to the turf in the far right corner! From out wide again the conversion couldn’t carry against the wind 12 – 21.

Leigh again tried the short kick off but this time it didn’t carry and Mayfield got the penalty on the halfway. Billings took the tap and put Jonathon Muir through on the left and a storming run batting off defenders was spoiled when he was tackled and lost the ball sliding over the whitewash!

Leigh didn’t give up and again forged forward with some great hands and slick passing found Leon Brennan out wide on the left to crash in a t the corner. Radley again couldn’t make the extras? 16 – 21.

With only a minute to go all hell broke loose when Tony Hilton copped a fist in the back of his head from Simon Stephens who got a bloody nose off Hilts for his troubles, but Kilshaw came in from out wide like a man possessed and flattened Hilton with flying punch to the head where he couldn’t see it coming! After a committee meeting with the t.j.’s Kilshaw and Hilton got a yellow each, which was pointless really as this was the last action of the game and spoiled what had been a thrilling encounter!

Well done to both sides who showed great commitment in a feisty, but mainly fair, encounter and were a credit to their respective clubs. No doubt next year will see these two turn in more outstanding performances in the Premier Division!

After Skirlaugh’s win over Siddal, Mayfield have another mountain to climb over in Hull next Saturday. I hope we get officials who are at least neutral and not from the Hull District as we had against Dockers a fortnight ago?

Mayfield’s M.o.t.M. was Jack Sampson
Leigh East’s M.o.t.M. was Carl Redford