Mayfield Rugby League

MAYFIELD LACK CUTTING EDGE

National Conference league, Division 1

Normanton Knights 14

Rochdale Mayfield 4

Mayfield travelled to Normanton Knights in Wakefield on Saturday to face a team pushing for promotion, with a reputation for being a tough team to beat at home. Mayfield started well and showed plenty of spirit for the fight, completing the first set and forcing a forth-minute penalty, which Eamon Hillen inexplicably missed from a kickable position. This seemed to set the tone for the day as Mayfield showed commitment and fire but lacked polish and direction.

Normanton immediately took advantage and following a dubious reset of the tackle count, the pressure of back to back sets saw their hooker dart over from acting half back for a converted try which gave them a 6-0 lead. Tough defence and brave running, led by Ben Simpson, Sean Snape and Mark Biggins, set the tone for the rest of the half, but again Mayfield lacked direction, largely due to an injury to player-coach Sam Butterworth, who’s last involvement in the game did produce quick hands to the right, where centre Simon Moore powered over the line. Hillen missed the conversion and it was 6-4 at the break.

After the break Mayfield missed Butterworth’s prompting and got into an arm wrestle with the home side and their vociferous crowd. This was Rugby League for the purist, with the referee unwilling to enforce the ten-metre defence and both sides intent on crashing into each other with punishing tackles and strong runs, in which Andrew Moroney and Mark Biggins came to the fore. Again minor individual errors compounded to give Normanton field position and they took it with a converted try and penalty to go into the last quarter ahead by 14-4.

Mayfield refused to give in and pounded the home try line showing a determination that will stand them in good stead for the remainder of the season, but they lacked a cutting edge and direction – somewhat forced by a makeshift half back pairing following the withdrawal of Hillen – and the scoreline stayed the same.

This was a frustrating game from Mayfield, who showed the fire and determination missing last week, but lacked direction and cutting edge against a team who defended well and took the points.

Team; Snape, Foy, Sampson, Moore, Kershaw, S Butterworth, Hillen, Coombes, B Butterworth, Brett, Moroney, Robinson, Gleeson. Biggins, Mortin, Moores, Simpson.  

Pilkington Recs 28 – 4 Mayfield ‘A’

Despite a gritty effort last weekend, Mayfield ‘A’ lost to a strong Pilkingtons side who were strengthened by a number of first team players after the cancellation of their game.  Mayfield were themselves depleted by !st team call ups but manager Jack Ashworth and the players came away happy with the effort, if not the scoreline.