Mayfield Alliance 24 - 18 Rochdale Cobras

North West Mens League Open Cup Round 2

Top dogs in Rochdale Rugby League was at stake at the Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday, as Rochdale Mayfield's second string Alliance team faced Rochdale Cobras in the North West Mens League Open Cup second round.

Mayfield's youngsters came out 24-18 victors in game that thrilled a large crowd on a great summers day.

Mayfield started well, with strong forward charges by James Percy, Mark Nyland and Andy Lee forcing repeat sets.

Damian Corcoran directed the team to centre field where Nick Hargreaves forced his way over the line for an Andy Lee goaled try.

Cobras frustration showed as Fijian Napolean Good gave away a number of penalties for high tackles. The referee's patience finally broke and he sin binned Good.

Despite this, the game remained even, with Mayfield's disciplined play creating pressure and the Cobras always dangerous on the break, particularly through Mayfield old boys Lepani Sora and Gaz Wood.

Good returned after 10 minutes cooling his heels but immediately continued where he left off with a late and high tackle that saw him sent from the field again, this time with a red card.

Mayfield's discipline disappeared with him though, as the referee found something wrong in each of their sets.

Cobras took advantage of the possession and position to score a converted try to draw level.

Mayfield's coaching staff implored their troops to be squeaky clean in defence, but the second half started as the first ended, with a glut of penalties against them.

Cobras had drafted in a number of new players on the morning of the game, in an attempt to bridge the two division gap between the teams, and this seemed to have worked as they took a four point lead early in the second half - via two goals.

Mayfield seemed shell-shocked, but  on their first decent possession, Stan Connolly directed them into the Cobras 20, then worked hard to force them to run the ball on the last tackle. George Yewdale was working hard in defence and snuffed out the danger then, following the turnover, Lee Atkinson sent James Percy charging through the line, and he handed onto Nick Hargreaves, who powered over for his second try, to draw level.

Andy Lee converted to give Mayfield the lead.

Hargreaves lost the ball on the kick off set and Cobras took advantage when rounding the defence with pace from a scrum on the Mayfield 20 metre line.

Mayfield looked the better team when they kept the ball and on only their second decent possession of the half James Percy took four defenders over the line with him, for an Andy Lee converted try and a 18-14 lead.

From the kick off Percy set up the next play as he charged to half way, and two patient plays later Dave Devlin chased down an Andy Lee kick through the line to score in the corner. Lee coverted magnificently from the sideline for a 10 point lead at 24-14 and this effectively secured the match, despite a late Cobras try that saw this pulsating tie end at 24-18 to Mayfield.

James Percy took the Man of the Match award, but he was pushed close by Damian Corcoran, George Yewdale and Nick Hargreaves. Best for the Cobras were Gavin Buckley and Gareth Wood.

Mayfield Team:  Joe Hart, Dave Devlin, Nick Hargreaves, Luke Hartley, Anthony Bamford. Stan Connolly, Andy Lee. James Percy, Damian Corcoran, Mark Nyland, George Yewdale, Jake Johnston, Lee Atkinson,  Duncan Simpson, Paul Hancock, Andy Battersby, Adam Pirouzan.