Rochdale Mayfield 47 – 22 Ince Rose Bridge

Mayfield made huge strides towards a successful season at the Mayfield sports centre on Saturday (23 October 2010), by claiming the notable scalp of Ince Rose Bridge in a high scoring match that thrilled the sizable crowd from start to finish.

The Wigan based visitors were, last year, relegated from the premier division of the top winter rugby league in the country only on point’s difference, but Mayfield have started to find some form over the last few games, thanks in no small part to the direction offered to the team by player coach Sam Butterworth.

The game started with great intensity as both sides drew the crowd to warm their hands with good ball control and committed defence, but despite the confident start Mayfield went behind on 10 minutes when the visiting full back rounded the left hand side defence for a try that was unconverted.

The sides traded quality sets but Mayfield gained the upper hand on 22 minutes when Robert Kershaw made a half break on half way and drew a penalty from the defenders who were desperately hanging on to prevent a quick play the ball.

A kick for touch and four drives later, Mayfield were pressing the Ince line and quick thinking hooker, Todd O’Brien, forced his way over for a Sam Butterworth converted try. 6-4 but the game remained tight until five minutes later, Sam Butterworth produced an unreadable step through the on rushing defensive line, and raced 20 metres to the line untouched, for a try he failed to convert.

Rose Bridge wouldn’t go away though and they fought back to 10 all with a converted try on 34 minutes. The nip and tuck continued as the sides traded converted tries before the break – Mayfield’s, a crowd rousing 75 metre sprint from Ben Namulatua who scooped up a loose ball and cruised over.

16 all at half time Mayfield must have wondered how they weren’t comfortably in front with the quality of rugby they were producing, and minds were focused further one minute into the second half when Mayfield failed to gather a smart chip through by the Rose Bridge hooker who touched the ball down to take a 16-20 lead. Mayfield regained the lead 6 minutes after the restart when a smart short pass on the blindside from Ben Butterworth put his brother Sam through the line and he produced a fine step to go in under the posts. 22-16 and four minutes later big tackles by forwards Saqib Murtza, Chris Brett and Joe Robinson put the Wigan side under real pressure in their own 25.

Lee Atkinson stopped his opposite number, who coughed up the ball and 3 quick play the balls later Sam Butterworth gave a simple tip-on pass to Saqib Murtza on a terrific line, and the British Asian international showed his pace and strength to crash over for a Sam Butterworth converted try. 28-20 on fifty minutes and this was increased to 30-20 ten minutes later when more Mayfield pressure on their opponent’s line drew a penalty for ripping the ball which Sam Butterworth converted. Two scores in front and Mayfield looked comfortable again, but a speculative last tackle kick from the visitors ricocheted and they came up with the ball for a converted try to keep them in the game at 30-26.

This Mayfield team are made of determined stuff though and didn’t let this misfortune unnerve them. From the restart Wayne Corcoran smashed his opposite number who spilled the ball. On the next play centre Sammy Sampson showed remarkable pace and strength to force his way over to make it 36-26. The lead was ten points again and on 78 minutes Sam Butterworth sealed a fine Mayfield attacking display, when he capitalised on a stunning team break started by a class Joe Robinson offload and fast hands by John Foy and Robert Kershaw found Butterworth in all the space he needed to take his hat trick. He converted to take his tally to 24 points from 3 tries and six goals, and his team took 2 points from a quality home performance and win, built on control, direction, quality attack and solid defence. Wayne Corcoran deservedly took the man of the match award for his tireless work in attack and defence.

Team; Robert Kershaw, Ben Namulatua, Steve wood, Ian Sampson, John Foy, Sam Butterworth, Ben Butterworth, Chris Brett, Todd O’Brien, Saqib Murtza, Andrew Moroney, Joe Robinson, Aiden Gleeson, Matty Moores, Simon Moore, Lee Atkinson, Wayne Corcoran.

Tries; S Butterworth 3, O’brien, Namulatua, Murtza and Sampson. Goals; S Butterworth 6.