Fitton Hill v Mayfield Academy

Mayfield Academy travelled to Fitton Hill on Saturday with a depleted side after first and second team cry offs robbed them of several key players.

Fitton Hill on the other hand fielded their strongest side of the season, with six substitutes.

The game started badly for Mayfield after a dropped ball gave the hosts possession on the ten yard line and their rampaging forwards proved too strong to hold. Things got worse as the home side racked up the points taking a 22 -0 lead before Mayfield got on the score sheet with a fine try from Senior after Pirouzan and then Wells had worked hard to gain yards up the left side of the pitch.

After the poor tackling in the first thirty minutes it looked like Mayfield had finally gotten their act together and they were unlucky not to score again after first Bamford was bundled over the corner flag as he tried to ground the ball and then Carre after sprinting thirty yards to cross the line then added another five yards to his run, which unfortunately took him over the dead ball line. Half time 22 – 4.

From the kick off it was as if Mayfield were still on a break as the home sides centre ghosted through some very weak defence to increase the score. This seemed to act as a wake up call for the visitors and they finally began to play some rugby, the forwards who had been largely anonymous in the first half started to get the better of their opposite numbers and with the impressive Jack Ashworth behind every play a fantastic turnaround began. With Bamford, Hill and Ashworth all getting over the white wash. Drennan kicked three goals to complete the scoring for Mayfield.

The game was lost 30 – 22 but the coaches were very happy with the end result.

“To go away with a very young squad and only two subs in the blistering heat of the day, and only lose narrowly showed tremendous spirit and courage,” said Coach for the day Wayne Hartley, “I was particularly impressed with Ashworth and Luke Hartley who paired up well in the second half and created three tries.”

Also impressive for Mayfield were Harte, Wells, Widdup, and Colclough. Ashworth claimed the MOM but he was closely followed by Durrand and pirouzan.

Squad: Luke Senior, Sean Hill, Anthony Bamford, Luke Hartley, Ryan Drennan, Jack Ashworth, Ian Kershaw, Adam Pirouzan, Ben Widdup, Rob Wells, Adam Colclough, Dougie Carre, Joe Harte, Matty Ashworth, Andre Durrand.