Mayfield Alliance v Hindley

Rochdale Mayfield National Conference Alliance team faced Wigan side Hindley in a friendly match, if there ever is such a game, on Saturday, and with both teams needing a run out the great show of spectators were not disappointed.

Even after the pre-match set back of the first team’s referee being stuck in traffic and hoodwinking the match official, to his credit the linesman took charge of the thrilling spectacle, and did a sterling job officiating.

Mayfield started the brighter with a great solo try by Jake Johnson, who weaved and dodged through the defence like a Springbok evading a pride of Lions, with footwork Robbie Savage could only dream of. Tries quickly followed from Howard, Kelly and Percy, which saw Mayfield race to a 20 point lead, and even the ageing Duncan Simpson chipped and chased from 25 yards out to roll back the years to camp the visitors on their line, for the third repeated set in a row.

Then complacency set in with an unusual lack of discipline offering Hindley easy yards on two occasions to piggy back up the field and score a couple of converted tries. At that point strong words were needed by coach and matriarch Marvin Connolly, and a case of getting back to the game plan.

The second half started immediately as the first finished with swift movement from Hindley, and they were soon overtaking Mayfield in the scoring stakes, and with 20 minutes remaining the score line read 26-24 to the visitors.

Then like a Phoenix from the ashes Mayfield began to rise to the occasion, and a magnificent break from Percy from inside his own 20, defying gravity and expectation, he raced 60 meters only to be denied on the visitors 10 yard line by the impressive, but ginger Hindley 13, helped along by the full back, and a suspicion of a beautiful sunset taking young Percy’s eye off the prize, which tumbled the giant into an exhausted heap. However this was the spur Mayfield needed, they quickly grabbed two more tries, with one conversion.

The game then excelled into and end to end affair with the visitors once again claiming a converted try, only for Mayfield to have the final say resulting in a 38-32 victory. Man of the match Jake Johnson had a great game on return from injury, closely contested by the ever impressive Nick Hargreaves in the centre and Andy ‘Better than Sam Butt’ Taylor at full back.

Much praise needs to be heaped on the growing band of stalwart spectators for the Alliance team, and the back room staff for getting the game organised at short notice. The coaching staff would also like to thank Dave Ramsden and Andy Battersby who joined in after their tough Masters game. But much credit to the club as once again last weekend Mayfield fielded four teams of local players, and the future looks very rosy indeed for Rugby League in Rochdale.

Mayfield next game is this weekend against local side Waterhead from Oldham, and this promises to be all that a derby is, tough and physical, so come down and cheer on the boys.