St Anne’s 16 Mayfield 40

Man of the Match Todd O'Brien breaks free

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Rochdale Mayfield reached the final of the Oldham Standard Cup on Saturday when they convincingly overcame Oldham St Anne’s on their own meadow.

It didn’t take Mayfield long to get on the score sheet as a flowing move saw Carl Abraham get on the end of a flick pass and score out wide.

Soon after, and with the Rochdale side looking in total command Sean Snape crashed onto a pass and proved unstoppable for an Ieuan Higgs converted try 0 – 10.

The home side theen came back into the game, they threw everything at the Rochdale line and it was only a matter of time before they got their reward, 4- 10.

Within minutes the big Oldham prop went over under the sticks to level the scores. 10 – 10 some excellent defence from Sammy Sampson made sure there was no further score in the first half.

From the start of the second half Mayfield’s superior skill and fitness began to show, Eric Johnson and Tod O’Brien were running the show now and St Anne’s could not hold them.

The defence was superb with Abraham, Ben Butterworth and Matty Moores knocking down everything that came near them, off the back of this, the backs began to take control Ben Duffys prompting opened up space for Rob Kershaw to make a superb break only to be stopped inches from the line, a quick play the ball saw Paul Lane score out wide,10 - 14.

Lee Bradley continued to cause problems in the right centre and again quick play the balls caught out the home side and Sean Snape capitalised to make the score 10 - 20. The only defensive lapse of the second half saw Anne’s grab a converted try 16 – 20.

It was one way traffic from there in with Saqib Murtza, Tod O’Brien, Terry Whaley and Lee Bradley notching scores but the pick of the bunch came as Si Moore scooped up a kick and sprinted sixty metres showing no after affects from his recent hamstring problems.

16 – 40 the final score this was a true reflection of Mayfield’s dominance. Hopefully this was a sign of things to come with the summer season waiting in front of them Mayfield are hoping for more of the same. Terry Whaley showed continued improvement along with Lee Bradley and Christian Duffy but it was Tod O’Brien and MOM Eric Johnson who set the game alight for Mayfield and saw them through to an early season cup final.

Team: Ieuan Higgs, Rob Kershaw, Carl Abraham, Lee Bradley, Christian Duffy, Eric Johnson, Ben Duffy, Terry Whaley Tod O’Brien, Aiden Gleeson, Sammy Sampson Sean Snape, Ben Butterworth, Saqib Murtza, Paul Lane, Si Moore, Matty Moores.