Mayfield Rugby League

Acorn too strong

Today’s visitors, York Acorn came with a reputation for being physical side and posted their intentions straight from the kick-off with a high head shot on Ryan Douglas returning the ball to the 20 metre line immediately giving Mayfield the first penalty in what turned out to be something of a scrappy game? It then took York a good five minutes to get out of their own half with Mayfield forcing mistakes, then making mistakes themselves and turning the ball back several time!

Mayfield came near to scoring first when on 9 minutes Ryan Douglas made a short break followed by another from Carl Abraham threatening the York line, but the kick through on the next play was too heavy and went dead in goal.

12 minutes and with Mayfield still pressing forward a sloppy pass out to the Mayfield’s right side saw York No 12 Simon Wadsworth pluck it out of the air and hare off from the half way line with Todd O’Brien and Ben Clare in pursuit on his inside forcing him out towards the corner where he just made the whitewash to touch down. No 9 Jon Liddell missed the conversion from out on the touchline. 0 – 4

Again Mayfield forced themselves into the York half, but a mix-up with Eric Johnson in two minds which way to pass the ball ended with him touching the back of one of his own forwards and losing the ball to ground. From the scrum York took the ball up field and on the 4th play the referee gave a penalty in front of the sticks for what appeared to be off-side? Liddell easily slotted over the two pointer for York to extend their lead to 0 – 6.

Mayfield again went close, but the York defence was well drilled and just kept Douglas out followed by a speculative grubber from Grant Bithel collected in goal by Andy Cargon and brought back into the field of play!

In the 20th Minute Acorn’s Jon Liddell went through passing to 11 Simon Wadsworth in support who in turn found fullback Danny Liddell to score a fine try under the bar, brother Jon converting to take the lead to 0 – 12.

28 minutes saw Douglas and Bithel combining to threaten the York line only for Bithel to be kept out inches short. Some quick passing from the play the ball from Johnson on to O’Brien, who then found Bithel for a try in the far right corner. A superb conversion followed from O’Brien to narrow York’s lead to 6 – 12.
On 33 minutes another iffy pass was intercepted by York and only a terrific leg tackle on halfway stopped a certain try.

A minute later Acorn’s Alan Willitts was sent to the sin bin for swinging punches after a tackle. Mayfield should have capitalised on the numeric advantage, but some wild passing and bad ball control had the opposite effect and Acorn had several minutes pressing the Mayfield line when on the last play O’Brien tried an interception only to knock the ball to ground which was swiftly gathered by York and whipped out to No 2 Stephen Mackley to score in the corner. Liddell couldn’t add the extras and it took York Acorn in at half time 6 – 16 to the good!

The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first with too many mistakes by Mayfield losing/dropping/knocking on. Fortunately York were only marginally better in this department seeing something of a stalemate until the 50th minute when another altercation at a play the ball when Acorn’s Ian Brown head butted Johnson the followed up with a couple of uppercuts. The touchie ran on and gave a report to the ref, but what we will never know as it resulted in just a penalty to Mayfield where a yellow or even red could have been brandished? However from the penalty Johnson whipped the ball to Gran Bithel who got it into Jonathon Petty’s hands to crash in for a well taken score. Todd O’Brien again added the extra two points 12 – 16.

Then came another period on stalemate with missed chances from both sides until the 72 minute when on the last play York stuck in a grubber and with a couple of Mayfield players watching instead of reacting Ian Brown (who could have walked earlier) pounced on the bobbling ball to score. Liddell converted 12 – 22.
Mayfield were visibly tiring by now and only two minutes later were given the run around by a series of York passes from one side of the paddock to the other ending with No 5 Leigh Rientoul strolling in at the corner. Another conversion by Jon Liddell extended the Acorn lead to 12 – 28.

A last effort by Mayfield saw them attacking the York line for a couple of sets, but ran out of ideas how to break them down and yet again it fizzled out. With a couple of minutes left on the clock an off load from No 20 Nic Caldwell to Danny Liddell saw the last try of the game followed by another conversion to take the final score to 12 – 34.

To see 18 points conceded in the last eight minutes was very disappointing as although York deserved the win they certainly weren’t as good as the score indicates? There were several good individual performances from the Mayfield lads, but they still are not working as a team? It will take a little time, but hopefully this will come as they play together throughout the season?

It probably didn’t help much that before the game coach Steve Gartland had to resign his position due to his B.A.E. work commitments, which will see him working away during the week until at least next March rendering him being unable to attend the training sessions! However it is hoped he will be available to play whenever he is back at weekends? The Mayfield board will have to appoint a new coach a.s.a.p.

Mayfield M.o.t.M. Ryan Douglas
York Acorn M.o.t.M. Jon Liddell

Mayfield:
1 Komah Nauamatua 2 Carl Abraham 3 Jamie Knight 4 Mike Kaufman 5 Rob Kershaw 6 Grant Bithel 7 Eric Johnson 8 Ben Simpson 9 Todd O’Brien 10 Chris Brett 11 Steve Wood 12 Ryan Douglas 13 Ben Clare 14 Neil Ramsden 15 Simon Moore 16 Jonathon Petty 17 Andy Reid

York Acorn
1 Danny Liddell 2 Stephen Mackley 3 Ian Brown 4 Matt Withers 5 Leigh Rientoul 6 Darren Callaghan 7 Andy Cargon 19 Danny Caldwell 9 Jon Liddell 10 Davey Burns 11 Mike Embleton (c) 12 Simon Wadsworth 13 Tom Hill 14 Tim Elliott 15 Jason Smith 20 Nic Caldwell 17 Alan Wilitts