Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield welcome Yorkshire side Normanton Knights to the Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday (20 November 2010) in the National Conference division 1 clash.

Mayfield are riding high at the moment, after a shaky start to their season they have now achieved five wins on the bounce. Normanton on the other hand have only managed two wins all season so will not be looking forward to their visit to Rochdale.

Last week the visitors recorded a decent win at home against Stanningley 26- 8, so they will be hoping that was the kick-start their season needed.

Last Friday night’s victory at Eccles cemented Mayfield in fourth spot in the league and has left the team brimming with confidence. “In atrocious conditions we played some really good rugby league,” commented coach Sam Butterworth, “However there is always room for improvement and that is what we have been working toward this week. We allowed Eccles to score 18 points which we should not have conceded so we need to work harder in defence and maintain the intensity and the concentration for the full eighty.”

The Mayfield forwards led by the industrious Tod O’Brien have looked impressive all season and with the backs now slipping into gear with the likes of Ben Butterworth John Foy and Steve Wood all putting in creditable performances, Mayfield are looking like genuine contenders in the division.

Sponsors in the Zone this week with Ace Electrical are Tony Appleyard and friends, Tevor Butterworth of the Weavers Arms, Ashfield rd and Darren Warne Joinery with the match ball again sponsored by Unique Sports. Players meet at cub as per pre match text.
Mayfield NWC are also at home on Saturday where they entertain Halton Simms Cross A in the Challenge Bowl round one. Halton have not had the best start to the season having won only a couple of games so far, but this is the cup and anything is possible. The visitors will certainly lift their game and will be looking for some success to build their season on. Mayfield on the other hand have, like the first team, have won the last five and are keen to do well in this competition, so a cracking cup tie is on the cards. Coaches Ashworth and Connelly have a full squad to select from and will be going all out to progress to the next round. Training this week has seen the focus on support play after last weeks victory against Eccles showed a couple of lapses in this area. Although we won comfortably in the end the result could have been a lot more convincing if we had supported the breaks. The forwards were punching holes in the defence but there was no second wave there to take the ball from them so we have worked on that and hope to put it into practice this afternoon. Players meet at club as per pre match text

Fixtures:Nat Con div1, Mayfield v Normanton Knights KO 2.30
NWC Challenge Bowl Rd 1 Mayfield v Halton Simms Cross KO 2.00

Mayfield Mustangs old boy, and current Super League player, Mike Ratu Jr will present the club with the shirt he wore when he made his international debut for Fiji earlier this year.

The presentation will be made at half time during the Mayfield v Normanton game when Mike presents the shirt to Mayfield president Barry Edwards.

Mike represented Fiji in the Pacific cup last year in Papua New Guinea.

After the presentation the shirt will be displayed in the Mayfield clubhouse.