Charity Cup saying at Mayfield

Simon Moore working hard in defence in the Charity Cup Final

Seven teams took to the field on Saturday (6 August) for the 87th Charity Cup – with home team Rochdale Mayfield coming out on top.

Mayfield, Mayfield A, Littleborough, Littleborough u17s and Rochdale Cobras were joined by invitational teams Gildersome Tigers and Wakefield CRL for the fast paced, 9 a-side pre-season warm up.

All teams played each other in 10 minute fixtures, with the top 4 teams progressing to the Charity Cup semi finals and fifth and sixth placed teams competing in the Rochdale Shield.

The group stages were a close affair, with Littleborough and Mayfield sharing a nil all draw in the first round, they both progressed unbeaten in first and second place respectively.

Rochdale Cobras, who were a last minute inclusion following the unwillingness of their opponents to travel for the Summer Conference NW Semi Final, came in third place with 4 wins, a draw against 'Boro and a defeat to Mayfield. It was Mayfield who they faced again in the semi final, only to be out played 22-6, meaning they failed to appear in the final for the first time since the inception of the Nines.

Mayfield A, winning 8-4 with seconds to play in their final group game against their first team, were eventually held 8-8, finishing a creditable fourth place, setting up a semi final against the unbeaten Littleborough. The game was a bruising encounter, finishing in a draw and forcing Golden Point extra time, which ended with 'Boro taking the spoils.

The two invitational teams, Gildersome and Wakefield, both faired well in the group stages with a win each and a draw against each other. It was these two who met in the Rochdale Shield final, with the 'Pie Munchers' of Wakefield, more used to tag rugby than the contact version, who eventually came out on top, 10-0.

Littleborough u17s, bouyed by the presence of Rochdale Swarm Tag Rugby League players Dave Ramsbottom, Ste Mason and Shaun Slicker, put up a good fight in there first ever taste of open age rugby, scoring classy tries and running Cobras close in the final group game.

With a decent crowd gathering, the 87th Charity Cup got under way, with ten times winners Mayfield taking on six times winners Littleborough.

The early exchanges were as tense as one would imagine, with tough tackling and final passes going to ground.

It was Rochdale Mayfield who struck the first blow with Boggle Hargreaves scoring in the corner. With Littlborough running out of steam, the Conference boys turned the screw, working the ball wide for Kristian Duffy to score, followed by a quick 'tap and go' try from newly elected captain Todd O'Brien. O.Brien continued the roll on and scored again before Iueun Higgs, winner of the Terry White Player of the Tournament Award, got in on the act with a classy brace.

The biggest cheer was yet to come, as old head Curly Kershaw, pulling on the Littleborough shirt for the first time in years, scooted from dummy half, gave a speculative pass and then cheered as the referee awarded the try, with most in the crowd believing the player had been held up.

Aidy Gleeson rounded off the final as he stepped inside and beat the final man to score, leaving Mayfield the Champions for the third time in three years.

The teams will get the chance to renew local rivalries again as the Riley Cup is launched on Thursday 18 August, with all teams invited to take part in the 13 a side round robin festivals held at Mayfield (18 August), Littleborough (25 August) and Firgrove (1 September). Kick off is at 6.30 each night with games due to be finished by 8.00pm.

For more details email ryan.bradley@rfl.uk.com