Eccles 20 – 28 Mayfield

Mayfield started this game like a team on fire opening with confidence right from the kick off.

After only four minutes Dan Kaufman swooped on a loose ball and raced thirty metres before putting Lewis Sheridan in for a try he which he converted.

It looked like the writing was on the wall for Eccles. The Salford side though don’t go down without a fight and were soon back in the game forcing a drop out as Kaufman punted the ball dead.

Eccles drove the ball back and, as the Mayfield defence failed to hold the powerful number eight, the hooker darted over for his side’s first try.

Eccles then had a spell in control as Mayfield struggled to show their superiority. The defence got their act together and punished the home attack every time they came near but mistake after mistake kept them in the game.

With lost possession and pressure applied by the home side, Mayfield didn’t have many opportunities. That was until Paul Brearley stepped up receiving the ball and jinked his way through with his now trademark ‘show and go’. Sheridan converted, 4 – 12.

Mayfield took control of the game with Sheridan and Brearley running the show prompting the forwards and getting the best out of them. Matty Moores, Luke Sampson, Mitch Spackman and Joe Q were again in fantastic form, eager for work breaking down the defence seemingly at will.

Eccles got a lucky break as the Mayfield defence failed to clear a harmless kick through. The home side again got themselves back in the game, 8 – 12.

Mayfield hit back opening the game up with some well executed set plays straight from the training pitch.

Eccles were struggling to contain them as attack after attack was foiled at the last play.

A power play on the last tackle caught the defence unaware as the ball was worked along the line to Liam Whalley who dived over to increase the lead, 8 – 18.

Two further second half tries from Brearley and Kristian Duffy stretched Mayfield's lead to 8 – 28.

It looked like the Rochdale side were going to run in a cricket score with Brearley going through his full repertoire of tricks.

Jack Sampson was organising from the back and Sheridan leading up front to balance the side perfectly.

A nasty clash of heads saw both sides lose a player and a lengthy stoppage as the injuries were dealt with. Mayfield lost Joe Q, which was a massive blow but they should have been able to deal with it with the quality of forwards now at their disposal.

The break, however, seemed to disrupt the flow of the game and Mayfield struggled to hit their form again as Eccles made the most of it and came back stronger and more determined. Their halfbacks now got involved in the game and started to swing it back in their favour bringing their side two more tries to fetch the score to 20 – 28.

This was the final score and the Mayfield players and crowd alike breathed a sigh of relief as the referee blew for time with Eccles the stronger team.

A good Mayfield performance, once they had settled down and started using the ball Eccles couldn’t live with them.

Brearley and Sheridan were outstanding as was Moores. Luke and Jack Sampson also put in good shifts while Todd O’Brien dominated the game from the front.

Team: Jack Sampson, Kristian Duffy, Rob Kershaw,Wayne Ryburn, Dan Kaufman, Paul Brearley, Lewis Sheridan, Mitch Spackman, Todd O’Brien, Matty Moores, Luke Sampson, Liam Whalley, Joe Qanuici, Komai Nualamatua, Sam Butterworth, Mark Biggins, Simon Moore.