Rugby League: Underbank Rangers 38 – 22 Rochdale Mayfield

Mayfield took the short journey to Holmfirth to face newly promoted Underbank Rangers but came away without the league points and hugely disappointed by their performance.

Underbank's quirky little ground is a throw-back to rugby league of the past but the conditions were fine, and the undulating pitch cried out for good game management – something Mayfield have been unable to produce so far this season.

Playing down the hill, Mayfield finished the first set with a kick to the bottom corner but then let Underbank off the hook by conceding possession on two occasions and giving away a penalty under the posts, Underbank converted.

Mayfield hit back and quick play the ball from Aidan Gleeson, Paul Brearley put Lewis Butterworth in for a try, converted by Ieuan Higgs.

Underbank hit back almost straight away as Mayfield again gave the ball away in their own half and the Mayfield defence were guilty of shirt grabbing, the home side’s left centre coasted in for a try.

Underbank again finished a set and kicked long to pressure Matty Chrimes, who was forced behind his own try line.

Mayfield survived, and Callum Marriott broke from his own half but offloaded to no-one and Underbank recovered the ball. As Underbank again got to their kick downfield, Paul Brearley pressurised the kicker, but he evaded the Mayfield captain and hacked the ball downfield were Keiran Harmer dropped it.

Underbank forced another drop out and then scored again as simple passing to the left had the Mayfield defenders, unsuccessfully, grasping at shirts after giving the attackers the outside.

Mayfield finally got possession in the Underbank half and worked to the line for Aidan Gleeson to crash over from short range. Ieuan Higgs converte.

Mayfield self-destructed again, giving away a penalty on the last tackle, then giving the attackers space on the outside, first on the right as the second rower broke through, then on the left for a carbon copy repeat of the previous try.

With a deep kick, Mayfield forced an error in the Underbank half, and Paul Brearley kicked a grubber through for himself to score. Ieuan Higgs missed the relatively simple conversion.

Mayfield switched off at the restart and the right-hand side defence again gave their opposites the outside and couldn’t recover as simple passing gave them another try.

Half time: Underbank Rangers 22 – 16 Rochdale Mayfield

Mayfield time again failed to use a long kick to the bottom corner – where exit sets were nigh on impossible, and they persisted with short kick-offs, none of which were recovered but gave easy yards to the opposition.

A penalty for offside gave the Underbank good field position and they forced their way over from short range.

Mayfield lost promising young winger Christian Avis to a serious ankle injury and again self- destructed with a knock on at the play the ball on in their own half and Underbank again took advantage with a try in the corner.

Callum Marriott saw yellow after reacting to constant niggling from the opposition half back, and this sparked a bit of a Mayfield fightback as Ieuan Higgs intercepted a pass to score.

The visiting fans thought there could be a comeback on the cards as Andy Taylor broke the defence and broke up field, but he inexplicably kicked into mid-field and Underbank caught the ball clean to score easily under the posts and take victory.

Mayfield team: Lewis Butterworth. Keiran Harmer, Lewis Jackson, Matty Chrimes, Christian Avis. Paul Brearley, Ieuan Higgs, Simon Moore, Callum Ogden, Jimmy Connaughton, Callum Marriott, Macauley Donnelly, Aidan Gleeson, Nick Hargreaves, Jake Boardman, Declan Sheridan, Andy Taylor.