NCL Mayfield v Siddal

Rochdale Mayfield NCL pushed undefeated Siddal, all the way in the soaring heat in Castleton on Saturday.

The Halifax outfit are arguably the top team in amateur Rugby League, and they showed it as they scored first, their full-back slicing through for a converted try on 6 minutes.

Halves Andy Lee and Sam Butterworth were busy for Mayfield though and they created field position on 16 minutes from which prop forward Aidan Gleeson crashed over. Gleeson added the conversion and tied the scores at 6 all and they stayed that way until the 28th minute when Siddal scored a converted try.

Mayfield looked up against it when Siddal added another just before the break for a 6-16 half time lead, but despite being depleted by the late withdrawal of forwards Mark Biggins, Lee Moore and Ben Simpson, Mayfield’s team is gaining a reputation for resilience, and they struck first in the second half with a quality Ieuan Higgs try that Gleeson again goaled for 12-16.

It was toe-to-toe action as the passes stuck in the heat, and Siddal scored again on 50 minutes, but back came Mayfield with tries from Sean Snape on 55 minutes and Ian Sampson on 60 minutes. 22 all with a quarter of the game left. Todd O’Brien and Eric Johnson tried hard to work a game winning opening, but Siddal’s winger, Blackburn, showed why he is the League’s top scorer, as he took advantage of disputed referee calls and bagged two tries in 10 minutes.

The danger posed by Mayfield was not lost on Siddal though as they added a drop goal to make the deficit too great for Mayfield and the game ended 22-35.

Positive signs for Mayfield but no points as they battle for a high place finish in their group for interim season, that will culminate in November play-offs for the Interim Championship.

Team: Rob Kershaw. Kristian Duffy, Smon Moore, Ben Namulnatua, Ieuan Higgs. Sam Butterworth, Andy Lee. Luke Sampson, Todd O’Brien, Aidan Gleeson, Matty Moore, Ben Butterworth, Eric Johnson. Taurean Sheehan, Joe Qanuici, Ian Sampson, Sean Snape.