Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield club crest

Thatto Heath are Mayfield's opponents this weekend as they visit Mayfield Sports Centre for their NCL Premier  Division clash. Mayfield go into this one riding high despite last week's disappointing defeat at Siddal. The defeat, after going 12 points up in the first ten minutes left the coaches with some real positives.

Despite losing three players to injury in the first half, leaving them with just one sub, Mayfield put in a strong performance and pushed Siddal all the way. The team is working well and playing for each other, as all good teams do.

This week will be a tough game, they always are against Thatto, but Sam Butterworth is confident his lads have enough in the tank to return to winning ways. Last weeks casualties have been on the treatment table all week  but it remains to be seen whether they will make the cut today. Joe Taira, Sam Wright and Harrison Chappel picked up various knocks in the first half at Siddal but Butterworth is not to worried.

"We have bodies coming back this week, with Hargreaves, McDaid, Ainley and Dave Mills all looking good," he said. "Thatto have not performed to their potential this season but we will not be underestimating them. They are a good side with some outstanding players and we are approaching this game in the same way as last week against top opposition".

Mayfield are in fourth spot in the division but as a team and as a club they are not satisfied with that, they know they can do better. With one of the strongest squads for years injuries have robbed them of three and four players in some crucial games and yet they are still up there competing. again this weekend there are players missing but there are players available to step in and strengthen the side.

At last the NWML side have a game, this is their first fixture in almost a month and Andy Reid and Craig White are raring to get the team back on the pitch. It's tough to keep any sort off intensity going when the fixtures fall as they have been doing but like the coaches, their boys are ready to go and hopeful of consolidating their top three position as they entertain bottom placed Wigan Spring View.

Also at home this week are the Mayfield Ladies, this team just keeps on getting better as they take on better and better opposition and still continues to produce the goods. Last time out they took on Division One leaders Illingworth in a game that the Yorkshire outfit just thought was a formality. The ladies team doesn't roll like that though and and after one of their toughest games yet they came through with a 20 - 14 victory. This week they have an even tougher task at hand as they entertain Championship side Stanningley Rangers at the Mayfield Sports Centre. 

Fixtures 29 June 2024

• NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v Thatto Heath, 2.30pm kick off
• NWML Division 2: Mayfield v Wigan Spring View, 2.30pm kick off

Fixture 30 June 2024

• Mayfield Ladies v Stanningley, 2pm kick off