Rochdale Mayfield Alliance v Leigh Miners Rangers

For Mayfield’s final game of the season, it was a top of the table title decider with the visit of Leigh Miners Rangers. The Leigh side took the spoils in the earlier match in the season by 28-26, with this being the only defeat suffered by the home team, and Leigh remaining unbeaten throughout the season.

High anticipation and expectation for this game was prevalent with the support of over 200 in the stands and the committee being entertained via the corporate box, all that was needed was an entertaining spectacle to warrant the occasion, and both sides did not disappoint.

Mayfield started like a house on fire and stunned the visitors with speedy play the balls and bullish forwards Nyland, Robinson and Johnstone gaining valuable ground. This lead to a typical bull dozing try by the man mountain Bradley Robinson on 4 minutes which was converted by Captain Marsland.

Some dangerous tackling by the under pressure visitors lead to a converted penalty by Marsland on 8 and 21 minutes to keep the scoreboard ticking over much to the delight of the coach Leon Ashworth, who by now had chewed his way through his finger nails and was beginning to hit bones! Mayfield were well on top, but began to tire and this spurred on Leigh who started to make inroads into the home sides half. But through working as a team, they were held out, and the halftime score was Mayfield 10 Leigh 0.

The second half brought much of the same as the first half with Mayfield starting strongly. Sean Hill intercepted a wide move by Leigh on the half way line and raced to score under the sticks with Marsland converting. On 46 minutes, and just as he has all season, Mayfield’s leading try scorer Nick Hargreaves charged his way over and Marsland added the extras.

The game then became a tense affair with both teams giving penalties unnecessarily, and both sides being reduced to 12 men. Leigh then began to take control with three tries in quick succession on 55, 60 and 65 minutes with the former and latter being converted, scores then poised at 22-16.

Leigh were then again reduced to 12 men with the sending off of the frustrated first team regular loose forward who decided to want to decapitate the Mayfield back line. With both sides striving to take control, Marsland began to kick the visitors back, and if it were for the favorable bounce of the ball on a couple of occasions, the fastest man in Rugby League, winger Dave Devlin would have grabbed a brace of tries.

Sensing the need for points, Mayfield decided once again to take advantage of ill-discipline from Leigh, and Marsland slotted over another penalty.

Moments later came the comedy moment of the day when standoff Andy Lee attempted a drop goal which had the worms ducking for cover, and even this fell the way of Mayfield as the Leigh side had to force the ball over the dead ball line and drop out from under the posts.

This wasn’t to be the end of the story with Leigh scoring right on the final whistle, missing the vital conversion. This meant a Mayfield victory by 24-20, giving them a better aggregate score against Leigh and a joint title victory.

From 1-17 the players performed like gladiators and deserved the applause generously given by the largest crowd of the season, but the man of the match from Mayfield was 16 year old sensation Jack Ashworth, admirably supported and run close by Paul Hancock and Andy Lee.

Coach Ashworth, said: “The lads have worked hard all year and have excelled all expectations of me, the club and the league as the step up in class was huge. To a man we can all be proud of the achievements of this young band of brothers.”

He added: “We are all looking forward to the future with bright eyes and anticipation, and the work ethic the lads have displayed has assisted to end in this historic finish to the season.”

Mayfield approach the winter cup matches with aplomb and are very eager to succeed once again.

A special thanks needs to be placed to all the supporters this season, the committee and the older players for guiding the young lions to the fore.