Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Cole Connolly will play a major role in Saturday's game

Mayfield are on the road this weekend (Saturday 26 March), with a 300 mile round trip through Cumbria to Whitehaven where they face Wath Brow Hornets.

Brow have a great pedigree, are consistently a top four side and don't lose many matches at home. They have won both their games so far this season, both at home and will prove a tough test for a Mayfield side who are under strength still, with at least three players missing through injury and a couple more unavailable for personal reasons.

Last week's win against the odds has given the Mayfield camp a boost and there is a strong belief in the club that they can give any team in this league a game. The Mayfield pack have been superb so far but they will have to step it up another level this afternoon to match the big Cumbrian outfit. That step up shouldn't be a problem when you have forwards of the calibre of Si Moore, James Mulvaney and Darcy Maroske all being led around the field by Cole Connolly and Dec Sheridan.

All being well, Nick Hargreaves, Harry McDonald and Ieuan Higgs should be back in contention for a spot and last weeks new signing James Mulvaney will be back in after impressing the crowd and the coaches with his showing against Egremont.

Assistant coach, Steve Wood said: "Last weeks performance was a slow starter and that's something we can't afford this week. We need to be focused from the off.

"The Cumbrian sides seem to start off big, knowing that you've just spent three hours on a coach, they get into you from the first whistle. We can't let that happen this week, we need to have a good warm up and be on full alert or we will be made to pay."

Fixture 26 March 2022

• NCL Premier Division: Wath Brow v Mayfield, kick off 2.30pm