Mayfield preview

After a seven week enforced break its back to action on Saturday (8 January 2011) for Rochdale Mayfield as they make the journey over the Pennines to face Ovenden in the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The hosts are old foes from Mayfield’s Pennine League days and the rivalry between the two teams goes back a long way, with some classic battles between them.

Hopefully Saturday’s game will match up the billing, but coach Butterworth won’t be too bothered as long as his charges emerge victorious and progress to the next round of the competition.

After Widnes St Maries withdrawal from the NCL Mayfield are now in second position in division one with their opponents struggling somewhat in division two and currently occupying the bottom berth.

“We are all aware league form and position counts for nothing in the cup,” said Butterworth after putting his side through their paces at training this week, “and we are also aware that if we allow the opposition to start well they will take some beating. With this in mind we have been focusing on getting out of the blocks early, building a momentum and then maintaining this for the full eighty minutes. We have had a massive break between fixtures but the lads have trained well through out and are chomping at the bit the bit to get back on the winning trail. Apart from Maroney, hol, and Sampson, injured, the rest of the squad is fighting fit.”

Players and supporters are reminded that there is a 1.30 ko on Saturday to allow for extra time, so the coach will be departing at 11.30 all players meet as per pre match text.

The NWC side also has a big game on on Saturday when they go up against local rivals Rochdale Cobras at Firgrove. Cobras took the spoils 12 – 16 at the Mayfield Sports Centre earlier in the season so Mayfield will be all out to avenge that defeat.
With Mayfield and Cobras third and fourth respectively in div 4 a cracking game of RL is expected, both teams are enjoying some good results this season and both will be wanting to claim the points to help in their promotion bids.

The lads have trained well over the holiday period and coach Ashworth has really put them through their paces in preparation for the game: “I would say we are treating this like any other game, but that would be lying, this is a local derby and derbies are always that bit more special. So with this in mind I’ve had the lads in for extra work and they are all in the right frame of mind for the clash.” The game kicks off at 2.00 players meet as per pre match text.

Fixtures:
Challenge Cup, Ovenden v Mayfield ko, 1.30
NWC div 4 Cobras v Mayfield ko 2.00