Rugby league: Mayfield 15 - 14 West Bowling

Photo: Ian Neild

Noah Lawton was named joint man of the match with Cole Connolly

Mayfield have got used to the phrase "backs to the wall" and it was the same story on Saturday 7 September as Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood sat down to sort the team for this final home game of the league season.

The squad featured six under 18s players again, including Calum Burn making his first team debut. 

Mayfield knew they were in for a tough game. West Bowling still faced the possibility of relegation if results went against them and Mayfield still had a chance of dropping to fourth, meaning they would lose the all important home advantage in the play offs next week.

From first whistle to last these two sides gave their all, this was a great advert for the National Conference League. Cole Connolly and Dev Long ran the show ably backed by Ieuan Higgs. The youngsters in the team did more than their fair share of graft as they took the game to the opposition with Noah Lawton and Billy Pirouzan being particularly impressive.

By half time Mayfield had stamped their authority on the game and led 12 - 6, through tries from Connolly and Lawton with Connolly adding the extras. The visitors stuck to the task and proved they were no pushovers as they matched Mayfield blow for blow in the second half adding their own converted try and a penalty . Connolly added another penalty for his side to make the scores 14 - 14.

It was all to play for and the two teams did just that until Connolly stepped forward and popped over a drop goal to seal the game. 15 - 14.

As close a contest as this was, Mayfield never looked worried and were in control for most of it, which is testament to the West Bowling defence who were superb in their efforts to keep the rampaging forwards at bay.

Dave Mills, Joe Taira, Gaz Ellison and Ben Metcalfe were massive in the pack, with Max Riseham and Higgs looking good in the backs.

The match sponsors for the game, The Mayfield Girls and the McDaid family, had a difference of opinion on the who should be awarded man of the match so it was shared between Connolly and Lawton.