Mayfield preview

After last week's heroics at Castleford, Matt Calland and Sam Butterworth will be hoping their charges carry on where they left off.

“Last week the lads put in a fantastic effort and they got their just reward”, said Calland. “This week will be just as tough, if not tougher against fierce local rivals Eccles.

"Eccles are a good side who, like us have just found their footing in the division, although they slipped up last week at York acorn. We will expect no favours from them and on their own meadow they will be a tough side to beat. That said we are looking a bit more like the genuine article now and with players to come back into last week’s winning side we are quietly confident of providing an upset again.”

Mayfield have found it hard to get going this season but have improved steadily each week and the victory at high flying Lock Lane has given the club a real boost. There were still mistakes last week and they still presented the opposition with scoring opportunities but the way the team responded was fantastic.

The forwards controlled the game, with Si Moore again outstanding he was assisted by Aidy Gleeson and Ben Simpson but the performance of the day, in the pack came from Ben Butterworth who was nothing short of a colossus in defence. Throw Todd O’Brien into the mix and that is a pack to be reckoned with at any level.

The backs were not left wanting either with great performances from the Sampson brothers and Rob Kershaw weighing in with two tries also showing up well were Jack Ashworth and Ieuan Higgs who both put in telling contributions from the bench, with Taurean Sheehan and Paul Brearley now hitting it off in the middle of the park things are looking up for the Rochdale side.

The NWM side under the guiding hand of Leon Ashworth are also away today with a difficult game at Wigan st Judes. Judes are among the favourites for promotion in this division but this Mayfield side are no respecters of reputation as they showed last week in their narrow defeat at the hands of fellow promotion prospects Latchford.

As Ashworth said: “we were unlucky last week, that was a game that we lost rather than Latchford winning. We gave away far too much ball and too many penalties we had them dead and buried but mistakes gifted them the points. We were disappointed after the game but also we realised that we have enough of what it takes within the squad to be a potent force in the new summer era. We have some talented young lads, with the likes of Paul Hancock, Dave Devlin, Nick Hargreaves, Jake Johnson and Sean Hill along with the more senior players, Dunc Simpson, Craig White and Anthony Greaves so, and this may sound clichéd I know, we have a great blend of youth and experience. we will be going to Wigan today looking for two points to get our season started.


Fixtures for Saturday 28 April
NCL Div 1: Eccles v Mayfield, ko 2.30
NWML Div 2: Wigan St Jude v Mayfield, ko 2.30