Cobras 16 – 22 Mayfield

Mayfield made the short trip to Firgrove on Saturday (8 January 2011) where they faced the Cobras. This was billed as the match of the day and it certainly lived up to expectations with both sets of players giving everything in their effort to claim the Rochdale bragging rights.

Mayfield started the brighter of the two teams and were camped in the home sides half for the first 15 minutes, when totally against the run of play the Cobras centre broke from his own twenty to out pace the defence and score under the sticks.

With a six nil lead Cobras thought they were in with a shout but Mayfield had other ideas and turned up the heat.

The tackling from both sides was immense with Biggins, Lee and Abrams setting the standard.

After a cross field move Marsland found space and slotted a kick through the Cobras defensive line. Dave Navy left his chasers for dead and touched down in the corner, Marsland converted from the touchline.

It wasn’t long before Mayfield edged in front when after good work from Captain Dunc Simpson and hooker Paul Hancock the ball found its way to Carl Abrams who powered over Marsland converted from the opposite touchline this time. Kistian Duffy was next on the score sheet evading a posse of would be tacklers.

Mayfield were playing some great rugby and at times Cobras just couldn’t live with them.

All credit to the home side though they stuck to their task and pulled back a try to make the half time score, 10– 16.

Not much was required as a half time team talk with Ashworth and Connelly just asking for more of the same, and that was what they got.

The second half was a real blood and guts affair with no quarter asked or given. Both defences were rock solid and it took a real peach of a pass from Simpson to put Gareth Fletcher in for a well taken try converted by Marsland 10 – 22.

Cobras could easily have folded at this stage but that’s not in their nature, young pretenders they may be but they certainly deserve their league placing on this showing.

Mayfield appeared to be tiring with twenty minutes to go and their hosts upped the pace, but for some excellent defensive work from Sampson, Ellis’ Lee and Duffy they could have got more out of the game, as it was they managed another converted try to make the final score 16 – 22.

The sizable crowd was treated to a very entertaining game of rugby league and were very vocal in their support of their respective teams all in all this was a fantastic advert for Rochdale rugby league and a credit to all involved.

M.O.M for Mayfield was Mark Biggins closely followed by Duffy and Simpson but all players from both sides deserve a pat on the back.

This result sees Mayfield climb to second place in the table.