Mayfield preview

After the bitter disappointment of last week, Mayfield travel over the Pennines to Castleford on Saturday, where they face in form Lock Lane. The hosts are having a great season so far boasting five victories from six starts, their only defeat being against York Acorn who stole the points from Mayfield last week.

The Castleford side will field a big pack with a pacey set of backs to complement them.

Mayfield will go with much the same team as against York but Matt Calland and Sam Butterworth are delaying naming the side with fitness tests due for Eric Johnson, Mark Biggins and Terry Whalley and Ieuan Higgs returning from holiday.

Both coaches agreed there were a lot of positives from last week's game, not least of them the debut of Gaz Sharrocks from Littleborough who slotted in like a regular and was named sponsors man of the match.

"The main focus in training this week has been our completion rate," said Butterworth, "it was poor last week as was our discipline. The number of times we turned the ball over and gave away repeat sets is unacceptable at this level, if we want to compete we need to improve drastically in those areas. We also need to be a little more creative in the oppositions twenty where we let too many try scoring opportunities slip.

"Our forwards have kicked in now and are starting to control games with Ben Simpson and Si Moore being particularly impressive.

"In the backs Taurean Sheehan and Carl Abraham are looking good and with Paul Brearley settling in at stand off we have the nucleus of a good side.

"We will be going out with the lessons learned against York firmly implanted in our minds and hopefully this will be enough to bring us the much needed two points.

Mayfield A team are also in for a stiff test as they entertain Latchford Albion at the Mayfield Sports Centre in the first game in the newly formed North West Mens League.

Mayfield will be playing in the second division along with such illustrious names as Wigan St Judes, Leigh Miners and Bold Miners.

Saturdays visitors have had a very good pre season reaching the semi final of the War Of The Roses but that won’t bother Leon Ashworth's side. "We fear no one," said Ashworth when asked about their prospects in this league. "We won’t win every game we know that but what we also know, is that, we will go out wanting to win every game.

"We once again have a good blend of youth and experience and that’s very important in this league, we have retained most of last seasons squad with one or two additions most notably Mayfield legend Neil Ramsden. ‘Rammy’ admits he may be carrying a pound or two extra and may even have lost a yard of pace but the experience and the will to win that he brings to the team more than make up for that.

"We have a large squad of players available for selection today and I would remind the lads that it’s going to be a long season and everyone will play at some stage."

Fixtures.
NCL div 1; Castleford Lock Lane v Mayfield. Ko 2.30
NWM div 2; Mayfield v Latchford Albion Ko 2.30