Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield club crest

With three great wins on the bounce to their credit, Mayfield take a break from the NCL Premier Division battle this week as they face Oldham rivals, Waterhead Warriors in the thr Oldham Standard Cup final.

The game is played on Saturday 30 March with a 12.30pm kick-off at the home of Oldham Athletic Football Club.

This is a change from the normal Good Friday game at Oldham Rugby Unions Manor Park ground so supporters please take note.

Saturday's opposition Waterhead play their rugby in Division One of the NCL; one level below Mayfield and currently have just one win from three league outings. None of that will make a difference though as these two teams take to the field. Everyone wants to take the scalp of a team from a higher division, and add to that the fact that it is the Oldham Standard Cup and Mayfield is obviously the pride of Rochdale; you see that it is going to be one heck of a game with one heck of a rivalry.

There have been some epic battles between these two teams over the years, many of them in this very fixture. It's fair to say that over recent years Mayfield has generally had the upper hand but again the past counts for nothing especially in a local cup final. This competition dates back to 1904, so there is plenty of history there and Mayfield hope to add their name once more to a trophy they have taken on numerous occasions.

Mayfield will have a strong squad available for this game as more players return from injury. Coaches Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood are adamant though that they won't be risking anyone who is not 100% fit saying: "we are dead set on winning this game as we always are, but we will not risk anyone who is not right. The league has to be our priority and there's a long way to go. That said we are looking strong for the final and are quietly confident of bringing the trophy back to Rochdale."

Dec Sheridan, Nick Hargreaves and Gaz Ellison all missed out on selection last week for the York Acorn game but they will all be back in contention for a place in this weekend's final. The game is repeat of last year's final where Dev Long picked up man of the match after a superb game in which he controlled the pace to suit his team and put in an inspired kicking performance which saw Mayfield finally edge out a spirited Waterhead side to lift the cup.

Saturday 30 March 2024

• Oldham Standard Cup final: Mayfield v Waterhead Warriors, kick-off 12.30pm; venue: Boundary Park