Mayfield 26 – 10 Saddleworth

Mayfield continued their impressive pre-season warm up on Saturday by progressing to the Standard Cup Final with a convincing win over Saddleworth.

The Oldham side will be competing in division one of the NCL this season along with Mayfield, so this win, as well as securing a final spot also set the benchmark for the coming season.

The scoreline of 26 – 10 gave a true reflection of Mayfields superiority and only the somewhat one sided penalty count prevented them from notching an even bigger victory as the referee seemed to penalise the home side for even the most innocuous of challenges.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring after Mayfield had conceded four penalties in quick succession. Another penalty then allowed Saddleworth a six point advantage.

Mayfield stuck to the game plan and when a Paul Brearley bomb was fumbled Joe Qanuici pounced and went forty metres for an Aidan Gleeson converted score: 6 – 6.

Brearley was again involved as his break and pass allowed Matt Ovington the chance to find Komai Nualamatua with a fantastic one handed pass and he managed to squeeze over in the corner: 10 – 6. Half time.

Mayfield began the second half brightly with Eric Johnson and Todd O’Brien causing the Oldham side problem after problem with their tenacious play from acting half back Qanuici and Si Moore were running off the first receiver and proving to be unstoppable.

Ovington made a break after ten minutes and found Brearley in support he in turn found Ben Butterworth with a crossfield kick and he coasted in for an Alex West converted try :16 – 6.

The game at this stage could have turned into a rout but for Saddleworth rallying and getting the next score, this kept them in the game and gave them something to fight for.

Mayfield  managed two more tries from John Foy and then Rob Kershaw. Both were good team tries with several players involved in both efforts this rounded off the scoring at 26 – 10.

This was another competent performance from Mayfield and another well deserved victory.

The new season begins this week and after this showing Mayfield are looking good and feeling confident.

Team:
Matt Ovington, John Foy, Rob Kershaw, Alex West, Komai Nualamatua, Paul Brearley, Todd O’Brien, Aidan Gleeson, Eric Johnson, Si Moore, Luke Samson, Joe Qanuici, Ben Butterworth, Matty Moores, Jamie Hopkins, Nick Hargreaves, Sammy Samson.