East Leeds 42 – 10 Mayfield

After their promising pre-season, Mayfield travelled to Leeds full of confidence and hoping for two points to start the season in style.

East Leeds had other ideas, having gained promotion losing just one game last season they showed that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the first division.

East Leeds had a massive set of fowards and they proved to hard for the Mayfield defence to handle, they built a 22 – 0 lead by half time and the game was effectively over as a contest, although Matt Calland's side never gave up and in fact went close to scoring twice in the first half, with Matty Moores and Aidan Gleeson unlucky not to get their side on the score sheet.

When they actually played rugby Mayfield looked dangerous and in control, unfortunately these times were too few and far between.

The introduction at half time of player coaches Matt Calland and Sam Butterworth steadied the ship and gave the team purpose and direction and it was the combination of these two that gave Matt Ovington his first try for the club, converted by Todd O’Brien.

The same pair were again involved as Rob Kershaw crossed in the corner to take his sides tally into double figures.

Again there were some great individual performances from Mayfield but they were well beaten by a good side on the day.

Mitch Spackman continued his improvement and was outstanding topping both the tackle count and the hit ups while fellow countryman Matt Ovington also showed he has settled quickly into the team, making the full back shirt his own.

As usual Todd O’Brien and Eric Johnson never took a backward step and Kristian Duffy with no less than three try saving tackles on the massive Leeds forwards showed he was their equal.

Although well beaten, Mayfield should take consolation in the overall performance and feel confident that they can do well in this division.

O’Brien took the M.O.M award closely followed by Spackman and Si Moore.

Team: Matt Ovington, John Foy, Rob Kershaw, Alex West, Kristian Duffy, Paul Brearley, Eric Johnson, Mitch Spackman, Todd O’Brien, Aidan Gleeson, Ben Butterworth, Luke Sampson, Si Moore, Matty Moores, Nick Hargreaves, Matt Calland Sam Butterworth.