Rochdale Mayfield Alliance v Wigan St Judes

The ever impressive Rochdale Mayfield Alliance side were hosts to well drilled Wigan side, St Judes, who came with all the tools to upset the form book and run the home team in a close encounter at Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday.

The opening blows were dealt and both sides forced their opponents back to their line on a couple of occasions, but it was Mayfield who drew first blood with a well worked effort down the left when the mercurial centre Lee Bradley forced his way over in the corner with Marsland failing with the conversion. A period of errors then ensued with both sides turning over possession early in the tackle count and it was clear both sides were being frustrated, with this resulting in a 31 minute converted try by the Wigan number 5. Half time was upon them with the score in favour of Judes 6-4.

A stern talking to at half time from the Ferguson like assistant coach Marvin Connolly gave the Mayfield side the confidence boost with the emphasis on taking the game by the scruff of the neck and getting back to basics. Carlsberg don’t do coaches, but if they did, they would make them like Mr. Connolly.

Mayfield scored on 45 minutes with a tremendous stuttering effort from hooker Paul Hancock in the left corner, but again the difficulty too much for the kicker Marsland. Judes then hit back again through he winger with a bullish effort to force his way through 5 defenders to get over, score now 10-8 in favour of Judes on 55 minutes.

A tense tug of war again took place with Mayfield coming out on top with a daring scrum kick from Marsland from within the Mayfield 20 metre line, and a chase from Luke Senior to toe the ball before the desperate effort of the opposition full back, and he then scooped the ball up to majestically swan dive over the line for a converted try under the posts on 65 minutes.

This seemed to solidify the Mayfield side who dug deep and didn’t allow the Judes side to make the yards they previously did with a great effort especially from Andy Lee and evergreen Ant Greaves. Due to the score line of 14-10, on 78 minutes Marsland decided to kick a penalty from 35 yards out, much to the delight of coach Ashworth, as they spurned the opportunity to do just that 5 minutes earlier, giving them a 6 point lead. But this wasn’t to be the end of the scoring as Lee Bradley completed his brace in the right corner with a show of strength he may not have had if he were not donning a beautiful Movember moustache, with Marsland adding the extras.

Final score Mayfield 22 Wigan St Judes 10.

A great effort by the team especially the forwards, who due to injuries were light on numbers but were boosted by the coach Leon Ashworth’s special appearance, and a full shift put in which will stand the team in good stead in the final run in to the season.

Man of the match was Andy Lee was closely run by Hancock and Neil Connolly. The team is now producing a great ethic in their work and this will only be a benefit in the coming seasons.