Bradford Dudley Hill 20 - 22 Rochdale Mayfield

In an astonishing game at Bradford on Saturday, Mayfield Magic came to the fore, as the injury depleted Rochdale side took the spoils in a pulsating game against the Championship chasing Dudley Hill.

In the first game between these two sides just a couple of months ago, Mayfield played some of the best rugby league seen in Rochdale for years as they swept aside the opposition then matched their fire to win the game. The Bradford side were obviously out for revenge on Saturday, but Matt Calland's men stepped up to the plate and shocked the Yorkshire men with grit, dtermination and no little skill.

The opening twenty minutes showed what was at stake, as both sides drove hard and put in punishing tackles, and the game was played out in midfield, without troubling the scorers. That was until Joe Qanuici, on a typically uncompromising drive, won a quick play of the ball and John Foy stepped through the markers to break downfield. Foy was caught 20 metres out, but on the next play Calland took the ball on the right to dummy his way through the retreating defence for the first try. Todd O'Brien missed the conversion.

Mayfield held onto the 0-4 lead for the next 10 minutes, and could have extended it as first Ben Simpson, then Luke Samspon were held up over the line.

Mayfield dominated until they conceded two penalties in succession, then dropped the ball when attempting to clear their lines. Bradford needed no further invitation, and forced their way over the line to level at 4-4.

Just minutes later massive drives by Luke Sampson and Nick Hargreaves earned field position and a smart inside ball from Paul Brearley put Calland into space again and he did the rest for a 4-8 lead. Aidan Gleeson missed the conversion.

It looked like the half would end with this narrow Mayfield lead, but Bradford Dudley Hill had other ideas and they struck back, using the wide field to score to quick-fire tries with wide kicks to the wings, for a 12-8 half time lead.

Lesser teams may have folded at losing a lead in this manner but Mayfield played out a perfect opening set at the resart, led by a Ben Simpson barging drive and Jack Ashworth's determination they got great position in the first five tackles, then Calland's smartly dinked kick through found the tireless Ben Butterworth who touched down for an Aidan Gleeson converted try, and a 12-14 lead.

This was stretched to 12-20 as two massive drives by Qanuici gave Brearley space to chip over 30 metres out. He re-gathered and handed the ball onto to Rob Kershaw who produced fine pace and a hand off to squeeze in at the corner. Gleeson converted.

Again the home side hit back as they fought for yards and earned a penalty, from which Mayfield were found napping. They missed the simple conversion to leave Mayfield with a four point lead.

Mayfield's lead was stretched to six by a Todd O'Brien penalty, earned by the pressure caused by Jake Boardman's enthusiastic charges and Ben Butterworth's determination.

16-22 with 18 minutes play and Mayfield dug in. They could have been forgiven for trying the shut up shop, but they, and indeed Bradford, continued to play great rugby in an attempt to secure the win.

The game was end-to-end and, when the home side landed another try from a wide kick, it looked like a draw could be on the cards, if only the conversion was successful. It proved to be too far out for the kicker, and Mayfield held on for a famous win.

Mayfield showed that they have the talent and determination to match anyone and came away with a creditable win.

Joe Qanuici was voted man of the match, pushed hard by Paul Brearley, Ben Butterworth and Matt Calland.

Mayfield Team; Rob Kershaw. Ben Namulatua, Carl Abraham, Nick Hargreaves, John Foy. Matt Calland, Paul Brearley. Jo Qanuici, Todd O'Brien, Aidan Gleeson, Luke Sampson, Ben Butterworth, Jack Ashworth. Jake Boardman, Ben Simpson, Ian Sampson, John Marsland.