Mayfield Rugby League

ROCHDALE Mayfield romped to victory against bottom club Heworth at Castleton Sports Centre on Saturday.

The visitors have yet to win this season and it soon became apparent why, as the hosts raced into a 20-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes.

By half time the lead had been extended to 52-0 and it was to Heworth’s credit they stuck to their task in the second half, conceding just 16 points.

This was due in part to improved defence but also to Mayfield’s reversion to one-out rugby and, not surprisingly, a drop in intensity by the home team. The slick handling, quick movement and support play of the first 40 minutes was abandoned and with it the clinical finishing which had served them so well in the first half.

It’s difficult to criticise a team that has won by such a big margin, but it could and should have been more as the team prepare for the final game of the season, at home to fourth-place Castleford Panthers on Saturday.

The game was two minutes old when Ben Namulnatua put the finishing touch to a flowing move out wide. Rob Kershaw skipped through for a second, converted by Lee Atkinson, before Neil Connolly’s excellent pass sent John Foy over.

Atkinson hacked on a drop ball, collected and dived in for a try, which he then converted.

It was one-way traffic, Namulatua having too much pace for the cover as he scored a second and Matty Moore got on the end a fluent passing move to touch down.

Todd O’Brien scooted in for a trademark try from acting half, Namulatua completed his hat trick before limping out of the game, and Simon Moore charged through to score.

He then provided a lighter moment as he scythed through the cover only to drop the ball over the line with no-one near him.

Three minutes before the break, Connolly’s dummy set up Ben Simpson for a simple try which, added to Aidy Gleeson’s four superb conversions, brought up the half century for the hosts.

The second half was not one to live long in the memory, apart from a tremendous individual effort from Foy, who raced 70 yards to score.

He then became the second player to notch a hat trick, benefitting from a strong run by Gleeson, who converted both.

Matty Moore completed the rout with 17 minutes to go, forcing his way over from close range and, bearing in mind what followed, the referee might as well have blown his whistle at this stage.

Half-backs Connelly and Atkinson were at the heart of all things good for Mayfield, while a word of praise for Heworth scrum half Craig Richardson; small in stature but big of heart, he gave his all.

Mayfield: Kershaw, Foy, Wood, Gibson, Namulatua, Atkinson, Connelly, Coombes, O’Brien, Brett, Moroney, Matty Moores, Corcoran, Gleeson, Simon Moore, Ian Sampson, Ben Simpson.