Mayfield Rugby League

Mayfield 24 Siddal 42

Mayfield 24 Siddal 42

After last weeks debacle Mayfield were looking to improve their performance against today’s visitors Siddal.

It only took 5 minutes for the first try to come along when Siddal No4 Chris Marsh broke through some poor efforts to tackle him to score on the right. No 6 Shaun Garrod easily slotting over the conversion 0 – 6

From the restart with the wind behind him Grant Bithell hoisted the ball out on the full giving Siddal the advantage of field position but a couple of plays later after a knock on by Siddal’s No9 Craig Sanderson, Mayfield got the ball back and worked the ball up field and with 8 minutes Bithell found Ben Clare running onto the pass and Steve Wood in support took a well worked try. Bithell added to extras to level the score 6 – 6

Siddal then made easy progress down into the Mayfield half and Garrod sold a dummy to slip over to regain the lead who then converted his own score 6 – 12.

Again Siddal made relatively easy metres into the Mayfield half and after an up and under was fumbled and knocked on by Mayfield possession was regained, on the 3rd play on 14 minutes No 5 Gaz Blackburn dived over in the right hand corner virtually unopposed? From out wide Garrod sliced his attempt wide. 6 – 16

Mayfield’s confidence looked low and Siddal took advantage from a scrum on 17 minutes when Garrod did a run around and put a short pass to No1 Scott Caley who return it to him who then put a bullet pass out to No 2 Stephen Hope out on the left touchline to score in the corner. Garrod again missed from out wide 6 – 20.

From the restart Siddal knocked on to give Mayfield head and feed at the resulting scrum. On the 3rd play Ryan Douglas jinked his way past several defenders and 2 metres out while finally being tackled by two defenders popped out a neat overhead pass to Grant Bithell to touch down under the sticks in the 19th minute. Bithell then added to two to narrow to score 12 -20.

Twice in the next 5 minutes Mayfield were stopped short of the Siddal whitewash, then Siddal fell short in the 28th minute when the ball was dropped right on the try line for a let off for Mayfield?
In the 37th minute a controversial decision by the referee when he missed a pass that was at least a metre forward on the last play of Siddal’s set for Lee Gudor to find Garrod who weaved his way through several stunned defenders, improving his try to extend their lead to 12 – 26.

From the restart Mayfield were again unlucky to be brought up a foot short on their first attack! Siddal however played their way to their 30 metre line where Gaz Blackburn took off going past Mayfield’s Craig Highton and Andy Lee to put the ball under the black dot. Garrod slotted over adding the two, 12 – 32.

On 45 minutes from the restart Blackburn was tackled on the Siddal 20 by Andy Lee and then lashed out with his boot to Lee’s head. The referee had no hesitation in showing him a yellow card. Then only a minute later Siddal‘s No 8 Gary Lewis also was yellow carded (for what I missed?) So with two in the bin Mayfield should have taken advantage, but failed to find any gaps in the Siddal defence.
On 51 minutes scrum half Gudor showed a dummy on the last play and slipped over to score. Garrod missed the conversion 12 – 36.

Mayfield took a short kick off which was well taken by Jamie Knight, but from the very next play Andy Lee lost the ball trying to unload in the tackle?

In the 55th minute Mayfield showed that they can play good football when Grant Bithell got the ball out to Steve Wood who in turn found Andy Lee who then found Craig Highton out on the left for the try of the game. Bithell converted 18 – 36.

Siddal’s No17 Pete Howard was lucky not to get a card, yellow or even red in the 55th minute for throwing punches when he was relieved of the ball in a one on one?

Mayfield were again on the Siddal line in the 62 minute when they got a penalty for a Siddal strip two metres out. From the play the ball Grant Bithell sneaked in under the defenders for an opportunistic try. Bithell again converted to take Mayfield closer at 24 – 36.

Although Mayfield were tiring they were pushing forward trying to get that elusive score that could have pressured Siddal, but just couldn’t make that final pass.

With the clock ticking down and any sort of come back gone Garrod sold yet another dummy and skated through to score at the side of the upright converting his own try once again to make the final score a flattering 24 – 42.

On the whole a better performance by Mayfield, but a long way short of where we need to be to even survive in the Premier Division. Siddal were no great shake, but did the basic things that much better!

Next week we visit Leigh Miners who will be a whole different kettle of fish and will be smarting from their loss today at Wigan St Judes taking them down to 8th one place beneath Siddal?

Mayfield’s M.o.t.M. was Eric Johnson
Siddal’s M.o.t.M. was Shaun Garrod