Mayfield 26 - 6 St Anne's

Rhys Carruth on his way to his first try

After the performance against Hornets just the weekend before, coaches Calland and Butterworth changed the team about and in atrocious conditions they made hard work of getting past a spirited St Anne's side in this Oldham Standard Cup semi - final.

Mayfield started brightly enough with some good expansive rugby being rewarded with a Sean Watkins try, converted by Aidy Gleeson.

Gleeson then added his own name to the try scorers as he crossed for a six pointer with fifteen minutes on the clock.

Mayfield's performance went downhill with the weather, the worse the rain the got the more disjointed Mayfield became. Playing without shape and seemingly without a game plan they allowed St Anne's back into the game and only good last ditch tackles from Dec Sheridan and Rhys Carruth prevented them narrowing the gap.

With half an hour gone a good break from Rob Kershaw put Mayfield on the half way line, Callum Ogden found Carruth who showed tremendous speed as he left the defence trailing to touch down under the sticks. Gleeson again added the two.

The weather dictated the play for the rest of the half with torrential rain making the ball slippy and the going heavy. The forwards kept plugging away but the St Anne's defence held firm.

The second half started much the same and St Anne's began to gain some confidence, the Mayfield defence was found lacking and with six minutes gone they stormed over out wide for a converted score.

Mayfield tried to play rugby but to no avail.

St Anne's kept plugging away but some crunching tackling from Carruth and Paul Brearley held them at bay.

A cynical foul from Dec Sheridan was punished with a ten minute spell in the bin. This lifted the opposition but the Mayfield side held firm, Si Moore, Jack Rush and the returning Ian Sampson worked hard to keep St Anne's out.

Sheridan's return saw an immediate response from Mayfield as they grabbed two more late tries through Carruth and Si Moore.

The final scoreline of 26 - 6 was probably a fair reflection of the game.

Dec and Lewis Sheridan were influential as was Brearley, but the stand out players were Rhys Carruth and Aidan Gleeson.

Mayfield will now face Saddleworth in the final at the Oldham Rugby Union Ground on Good Friday.