Mayfield Rugby League

Mayfield 26 Skirlaugh 50

Last year’s high flyers Skirlaugh were today’s visitors, who haven’t had too good a start to their season winning two and losing two! With perfect weather for rugby league with bright sunshine and cooling breeze expectations were high on both sides.

From the kick off both sides certainly looked nervous conceding several knock ons, but with 5 minutes gone Skirlaugh No 9 Lee Waterman was first to test Mayfields’s defence when he broke through from 5 metres out only to collide with the left hand upright, dislodging the ball when being tackled from the right side, but the referee Stuart Lee gave a penalty for stripping, an absurd decision, and it wouldn’t be the last of the day? Opting to steady the obvious nerves Lee Waterman took the easy 2 pointer! 0 – 2

Only 4 minutes later Waterman again broke through from their 40 to scamper 30 metres, but as Mayfield fullback Naumatua tackled him he launched out a pass to nobody and a legally collected ball was ruled a knock on against Mayfield? From the scrum Skirlaugh launched the ball out to No 2 Brant Allen on the wing only for him to lose the ball over the line!

On 14 minutes a high bomb was taken by Naumatua who powered through to the Skirlaugh 35 metre line. From the play the ball Todd O’Brien fired the pass to Eric Johnson who hoisted out a long pass to Rob Kershaw on the left to score out wide. Todd was unable to convert the kick from the sideline 4 – 2

On 20 minutes a chip and chase from Johnson was brought up just short and the next play gained a penalty for Mayfield right in front of the posts, but the two points were spurned and in the following passage of play Mayfield came away with nothing? However a couple of minutes later a powerful run by Carl Abraham pass to Naumatua in support to surge in under the sticks. O’Brien duly converted for Mayfield to lead 10 – 4.

Mayfield were now playing some nice rugby and in the 24th minute Grant Bithell put in a huge up and under on the Skirlaugh 20 metre line for Jonathon Petty to rise above the defenders to score a well taken try 5 metres in from the right corner flag. O’Brien missed the kick. 14 – 2

The next few minutes saw both sides going end to end, but with poor handling at the business end the attacks fizzled out!

On 31 minutes a pass to Skirlaugh No 20 Mark Spence saw him go through flapping arms of the defensive line on the half way to scoot the 50 metres to plonk the ball under the black dot. Waterman easily converting, 14 – 8.

In the 35th minute Mayfield were unlucky not to score when a succession of quick passes got to Rob Kershaw who streaked off down the left touchline out pacing several defenders, but a desperate lung and ankle tap brought him down and into touch 10 metres out!
With half time beckoning Skirlaugh’s fullback Jordan Precious belted a massive up and under into the right hand corner taken by No 5 Danny Moss under a weak challenge from the defenders? Waterman took the two points to level the game at 14 – 14 and everything to play for in the second half?

Virtually from the kick off Mayfield were again penalised for holding down in the tackle. On 42 minutes Skirlaugh appeared to lose the ball forward, but 17 Brett Waller picked up the ball and crashed over Naumatua to score. Waterman converting 14 – 20

Three minutes later Skirlaugh’s No 7 hoisted an up and under which Naumatua fumbled on the line and 14 Chris Brown dived onto the loose ball for the try. Waterman again converting 14 – 26.

Another penalty on 50 minutes against Mayfield gave Skirlaugh the ball and on the 3rd play Waterman took his chance out on the left to skip through for a well taken try. Then he stepped up to convert his own try to take the score to 14 – 32. There were one or two Mayfield heads dropping now, in just eight minutes the whole complexion of the game had changed?

Mayfield did have several chances to claw back some points, but wrong options with final passes that didn’t go out, dropped balls and kicks that failed to penetrate spoiled it for them?

Skirlaugh should have scored in the 55th minute when 15 Michael Mulavassillis went past several defenders, but failed to pass to his supporting winger and was brought down 5 metres out!

In the 65th minute saw comedy of errors when it took three hacks at the ball behind the try line by Mayfield players to boot it eventually dead in goal. From the scrum 7 Carl Pickering fired the ball to 11 Sean Wilbore to dive over catching Mayfield flat footed. Waterman’s boot again slotting over to convert 14 – 38.

From the short kick off Simon Moore rose high above the Skirlaugh lads to retrieve the ball. From the next play the ball was heaved out right to Steve Wood who shot in low into the corner for a good try. O’Brien converted from way out wide 20 – 38.

Could there be a come back? Unfortunately not, almost from the restart Mark Spence went through a very tired looking Mayfield defence untouched on the halfway to place the ball under the crossbar. Waterman again converting 20 – 44.

73 minutes Skirlaugh were again pressing the Mayfield line and on the last tackle Waterman crashed over for his second try followed by yet another conversion. 20 – 50.
The last word did go to Mayfield though when Jonathon Petty powered over in the 77th minute and O’Brien kick the two. Final score 26 – 50.

A disappointing performance by Mayfield after a first half where they looked the better side, but the two eight or nine minute spells by Skirlaugh in the second half really put the mockers on any aspiration of winning this game? Skirlaugh are by no means the side they were last year so there is a lot of work to be done by Mayfield in rebuilding from the loss of last years players? Today I feel we missed Rhino Douglas’s tenacity and Steve Gartland’s steadying hand, but with any luck (and hard work) I’m sure the lads will soon be posting another win?

Mayfield’s M.o.t.M. was Steve Wood
Skirlaugh’s M.o.t.M. was Mark Spence
Match Sponser, Murphy’s Transport’s M.o.t.M. was Lee Waterman

Mayfield:
1 Komah Naumatua 2 Rob Kershaw 3 Jamie Knight 4 Mike Kaufman 5 Carl Abraham 6 Grant Bithell 7 Eric Johnson 8 Chris Brett 9 Todd O’Brien 10 Simon Moore 11 Steve Wood 12 Ian Sampson 13 Ben Clare 14 Danny Chrimes 15 John Foy 16 Danny Martin 17 Jonathon Petty

Skirlaugh:
1 Jordan Precious 2 Brant Allen 3 Matty Danville 4 Simn Kilby 5 Danny Moss 6 Stuart Smith 7 Carl Pickering 8 Trevor Penrose 9 Lee Waterman 10 Steven Atkinson 11 Sean Wilbore 12 Matty Bowers 20 Mark Spence 14 Chris Brown 15 Michael Mulavassillis 16 Craig Render 17 Brett Waller