Stanningley 4 - 24 Rochdale Mayfield

Rochdale Mayfield forced their way back into the promotion places in the Hatton’s Solicitors National Conference league on Saturday (5 March 2011) with a fine performance in Leeds against Stanningley.

As to be expected from a team of Stanningley’s stature, the hosts came out with all guns blazing and it took all of Mayfield’s considerable resolve to repel the early onslaught from a team fired up by their vociferous crowd.

Repel it they did and then took the lead on 6 minutes when another strong drive from defence by Andrew Moroney drew a penalty in midfield.

Ben Simpson rampaged to the line and a quick play the ball and short John Foy pass found Matty Moore in space to touch down. Aidan Gleeson gaoled for a 0-6 lead.

Stanningley fought back 5 minutes later when a cross-field kick on the Mayfield line found the defence in two minds and the Stanningley winger took the kick and fell over the line.

4-6 and the scores stayed that way for the rest of the half as the Mayfield line was saved on one occasion by Paul Lane’s never say die defence, and both sides showed strong defence but little in attack. Mayfield in particular gave away too many silly penalties and both teams had to survive 10 minutes down to 12 men as a result of a bout of fisticuffs.

The mood totally changed though in the second half as the Mayfield attack sparked into life. Aidan Gleeson and debutant Taurean Sheehan in particular dug deep to silence the home crowd.

On 45 minutes the visiting Mayfield supporters were treated to one of the finest tries ever scored by a Mayfield team as Todd O’Brien went right to the short side on the last tackle, fast hands and text book draw and pass by John Foy, Andrew Moroney and Steve Wood found Kristian Duffy in space on the touchline 15 metres into his own half. Duffy sprinted clear and powered through the clutches of the cover. 40 metres out he met his opposite winger, and showed great pace to pass him with an in and out swerve. Many wingers would have cut in field and took the tackle, but Duffy hugged the touchline and ate up the metres to get to within sight of the of the try line where the home full-back seemed to have him covered – but Duffy had other ideas and left him floundering with a right foot step that took him over the line to the delight of his team mates and the roars of the sizable travelling support. Try of the season, or maybe even the decade.

From that point on, Mayfield never looked like losing and further tries from Ian Sampson – who benefited from fast hands and powered over on a great running line, Matt Gartland – who sliced through the defence with a slick show and go 20 metres out, and Ben Namulatua – who backed up Ben Simpson’s midfield bust of the line and took the try scoring pass from Andrew Moroney to sprint in from 30 out.

Gleeson goaled the last for a final score line of 4-24 to Mayfield.
A great all round team performance by Mayfield was built on strong defence and enthusiasm and was justly praised by coach Sam Butterworth and celebrated in style.

Team; Ben Namulatua, Paul Lane, Steve Wood, Ian Sampson, Paul Lane. Taurean Sheehan, John Foy. Benn Coombes, Todd O’Brien, Ben Simpson, Andrew Moroney, Matty Moore, Aidan Gleeson. Chris Brett, Luke Samson, Matt Gartland, Mark Biggins.