Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield

Challenge Cup fever comes to the Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday (25 January) as Mayfield face the mighty GB Police team in a second round tie. The draw fell kindly for Mayfield as they were drawn as the away team but as GB Police have been playing their home fixtures at Mayfield's ground for the past couple of seasons, both sides in this game are playing at home.

Last time these two teams met was also in the Challenge Cup, five years ago, with Mayfield running out comfortable winners. Saturday's encounter will be a bit different, as the Police side have really upped their standard over the past couple of years and now boast a couple of ex-pros in their ranks making them a real force to be reckoned with this year.

Police reached the second round courtesy of a superb 66 - 0 victory over Welsh champions Torfaen Tigers at the Mayfield Sports Centre two weeks ago while Mayfield were victorious over London Chargers the previous day. 

There were a lot of positives that came out of Mayfield's first round victory, giving them a lot to look forward to in the season to come. But first on the board is the matter of progressing to the third round of the Coral Challenge Cup.

There is nothing taken for granted here just a belief that a natural feeling of confidence coupled with a side that is used to playing under pressure at the highest level week in week out will be too much for the opposition.

Mayfield coaches Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood are relishing todays outing and the chance to see how their new look side are shaping up against serious opposition. Butterworth has a pragmatic view of this weekend's game. He said: "My main aims for today are to improve on our last performance; a small improvement week on week should be everyones goal, show we can compete at the highest level and to get some much needed match fitness.

"It goes without saying that we want to progress to the next round but we are aware that this will be a tough game. We have prepared well and are raring to go.

"As coaches Steve and myself have done all we can it's all down to the seventeen who contest the game and we feel confident that we can win today and be in the hat for the third round draw which will be made at Hornets on Monday."

Tickets are till available to attend the draw on Monday 27 January: www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/132420/hornets-to-host-challenge-cup-third-round-draw

Fixture Saturday 25 January 2020

Coral Challenge Cup 2nd round: GB Police v Mayfield KO 2.00pm at Mayfield Sports Centre