Mayfield NWC v Latchford

With a total of 16 players missing from the Mayfield NWC squad this week, people would be forgiven for thinking that it would be a walk over for Latchford who have impressed in recent seasons in higher divisions.

With a scratch side out bolstered by the inclusion of some of the academy team Mayfield put out 17 men who were ready for the test.

The early exchanges saw Mayfield complete back to back sets doing basic rugby well and camping in their opponents half, against the run of play Latchford worked up the pitch, kicked on last tackle and got a lucky deflection to touch down in the corner, followed by a great kick from the whitewash, 0 – 6.

Mayfield carried on in the same vein with hard yards gained by Park and the very impressive Ellison was putting himself about, backed up by some tenacious defending Greaves and Nyland.

It wasn’t long before Mayfield got over the line with good play from Lee giving Hancock the position to get himself over, Lee missed the conversion 4 – 6.


There was some more brutal pack play from both sides and it was obvious that the Latchford lads could play open Rugby league, following one of the very few errors in this game Latchford flung it wide and sent through the pacy centre, Hill was unlucky not to stop him at the final yard but he struggled over making it 4 - 12 after the conversion.

Mayfield went back to basics and dominated the centre as a few of the Latchford lads went hiding, Mayfield went in search for the weak defenders and made great yards, Hargreaves going close a couple of times, taking a shot to the eye for his troubles.

Eventually Mayfield found a way through, in the form off the make shift stand off Duncan Simpson taking the ball to the line, dummy dummy chip chip and it opened wide as the Mersey for him to score – 10 – 12 following the kick from Lee.

By now Mayfield could smell blood in the air and the determination and aggression for the home side seemed too much for the visitors, following good build up play from Slack and Percy Andy Lee punted an crossfield kick for Hill to accept with open arms and score in the corner, Lee knocked over a beauty from the whitewash16 – 12.

As the seconds faded in the first half Mayfield continued to push their opponents back and an unfortunate knock to a Latchford player resulted in the emergency ambulance being called to treat him for a back injury. This was to be the last action of the day for ‘field’ as the game was duly abandoned.

Captain Andy Lee had a great half as did the now experienced pair of Hancock and Nyland, and after the best part of 30 years on the playing field Duncan Simpson may have found his true calling at stand off.

Games like these when your backs against the wall, short of number and playing a so called superior side sorts the men from the boys, the Mayfield lads should be proud of themselves and Latchford will have one eye on the opening game of the summer season when Mayfield welcome them back into the lion’s den.

Team: Joe Harte, Sean Hill, Craig White, Nick Hargreaves, Ste Gregory, Dunc Simpson, Andy Lee, Gaz Ellison, Paul Hancock, Tony Parker, Mark Nyland, Anthony Greaves, Mark Biggins, Danny Walker, Doug Carre, Danny Slack, James Percy.