Mayfield preview

Eccles visit the Mayfield Sports Centre this afternoon for this NCL div 1 clash.

Both Mayfield and their visitors are without a win this season having played two lost two.

Coaches Matt Calland and Sam Butterworth are both still confident that this Mayfield team has the ability to do well in this division.

They said: “We haven’t picked up any points yet but we have played some really good rugby. We just need to concentrate for the full eighty minutes cut out the penalties and improve our ball retention. It may not sound like it when you hear the scores but in general our defence is strong we have just been caught napping and given the opposition easy yards with needless penalties. We know we can’t afford to do this at this level, Eccles are in a similar position so this should be a good old fashioned game of rugby league. With another home game next week against Millom this is a great opportunity to kick start our season.”

Mayfield seconds who are also at home today play host Leigh Miners in the new war of the roses competition. The format of the competition is that North West teams play off in groups with the group winners going through to face their Yorkshire counterparts who are going through the same qualifying games.

Miners have played two in this competition, winning one and losing one. Mayfield, last week beat the Latchford side who were Leigh’s conquerors two weeks ago so Leon Ashworth’s team is chomping at the bit waiting to get this one under way, a win today would go a long way to ensuring qualification for the next round.

Fixtures:
NCL div1 Mayfield v Eccles; kick off 2.30pm
Roses Cup Mayfield v Leigh Miners; kick off 2.30pm