Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Mayfield face Thatto Heath on Saturday

Mayfield play host to Thatto Heath this weeked. It's only a fortnight since the two teams met in St Helens and Mayfield came away with a resounding 8 - 48 victory.

Thatto were missing a couple of key players that week so it will be a different proposition when they arrive at the Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday. By their own standards, Thatto have had a poor first half to the season and there is no doubt they will be looking to turn that around at Mayfield's expense. 

Mayfield on the other hand have had a near perfect start to their season with just the one loss away at West Hull. Since that game Sam Butterworth's side have strung together seven wins on the bounce, no mean feat when competing at this level.

Butterworth is well aware what is expected from his side today in order to carry on that winning streak. They need to show discipline, team work, a willingness to work when under pressure and resilience, and they need to show these from the first whistle to the last.

Last week against York Acorn Mayfield displayed all these attributes in spades but had a couple of lapses, with a high penalty count which allowed Acorn a glimmer of hope. Hopefully this will be improved on and Thatto will pay the price.

This is one of the best Mayfield sides for years and it has really got people talking. The possibilities are endless and the quality of rugby they are playing is superb. Mayfield Chairman Neil Ramsden echoes this when he says: "I would be lying if I said I was completely surprised by this side. Right from the beginning I saw something in them and I think Sam and Woody saw it too. The whole team is playing well every week with very few negatives to report.

"The type of team we have now was always going to do well on the firmer grounds and that is proving to be the case. It seems the dryer the grounds get the better we play. We are a fit and mobile side and the coaches have got them playing for each other. It's all looking good for sure.

"That said, we take nothing for granted. We know that we are the team everyone wants to beat and every game is a tough one. One thing I will say is that if you love your rugby league or in fact any sport, get down to Mayfield and see what we've got going on. You will be pleasantly surprised, the quality is unsurpassed at this level of rugby, with each game, regardless of the result, a real contest with no quarter asked nor given. So come and cheer us on our sights are set on the play offs but who knows where we will finish if the boys keep playing like this."

The NWML side are away at Newton Storm on Saturday and this will be another tough fixture for the boys. Last game out they were very unlucky to go down to Roose Pioneers by 2 points. Newton are just below Roose and so are definitely there for the taking. In fact if Mayfield were to win their two games in hand they would go level on points with them. So it is all to play for over in Widnes today. Andy Reid is hoping for a strong squad to select his side from and as always is confident that if the boys play to their potential on the day there will only be one winner.  

Fixtures Saturday 10 June 2023

• NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v Thatto Heath, kick-off 2.30pm
• NWML Division 2: Newton Storm v Mayfield, kick-off 2.30pm