Rugby League: Mayfield Mustangs U10s 34 - 6 Crosfield Vipers U10s

The rain clouds gathered as the Mustangs made their way over to Warrington to meet and beat the Crosfield Vipers on Sunday (22 April).

Mayfield won the toss and James Hillen got the game under way.

A strong chase from Mayfield forced an early Crosfield error, giving the Mustangs possession. Evan Buckley took the play of the ball and ran through to the corner for the first try of the game. Dennan Hardman added the conversion.

The Mustangs demonstrated some good defence keeping Crosfield out before Travis Hughes took the Crosfield kick and passed Hillen who made a darting run over the halfway line. Tom Kelly marked his 10th birthday by powering through the defensive line to go over for a second Mustangs try. He converted his own try.

With the rain pouring, the conditions were getting tricky for both teams and handling errors crept in.

Paul Perry made good strong bursts down the middle, along with Kayde Lee and Joshua Nash, who crept into the middle to get a good run in. A good kick on the fifth from Hughes was taken well by Nash but the Crosfield defenders managed to keep him out.

The next two defensive sets from the Mustangs were strong. On the first, Lee, Perry and Nash bundled the attacking Viper into touch to regain possession for the Mustangs. On the second, Kelly forced the Vipers to drop the ball and Hillen was able to gather and make good metres.

There were some good breaks from Buckley and Hardman, however, the try line was difficult to reach in the pouring rain and the score remained 12-0 at half time.

The rain eased off for the second half and Crosfield restarted with a long kick which was taken confidently by Freddie Yearsley.

Good team play got the ball out to Perry who powered through for the Mustangs’ third try. Hillen converted.

More tight Mustangs defence followed, particularly from Hughes, who was in for tackle after tackle, and Hillen who proved that it’s skill not size that matters in a good defensive line.

On the next attacking se,the Mustangs showed that they are listening in training. Yearsley got hold of the ball and made a strong run through but was held up. Buckley took the ball and passed out wide to eventually reach Hillen who scored. Yearsley stepped up for the conversion and slotted ove.

The next attacking set got close to the opposition line very quickly and Nash, followed by Brandon Buckley were both tempted to scoot and try to burrow over the line but the Vipers pushed back and kept them out.

Quick passing down to Hughes sent him over for another try. Buckley confidently converted.

Crosfield played the next set of six well but the kick on the fifth was taken by Olly Simon who pushed through towards the opposition half. Hardman made another strong run to gain good metres, and Buckley set Hillen up for another try. Hughes hit the conversion wide.

Just before the final whistle Crosfield played a good set of six and kicked through to the corner which their number 13 was able to jump on and score a converted try.

Coach Gavin Buckley told the players how pleased he was with their performance and said that he would "buy them all a pint... if they were old enough".

Coach Dan Lee congratulated the team on a "great team performance".

Man-of-the-match, awarded by ex-Wigan and Hull player and Vipers coach Shaun Briscoe, went to Hillen.

Man-of-Steel went to Travis Docherty-Hughes.

The Coaches Award for a stand-out game went to Yearsley.