Mayfield 22 – 16 East Leeds

Rob Kershaw and Callum Marriott

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Mayfield continued their good run of form with a thrilling victory over second placed East Leeds at the Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday.

This win lifts Mayfield into fifth place with a top three finish now a reality after winning the last six games on the bounce.

The home side started in their usual style playing with flair and confidence. The self-believe the team now possesses is a major factor in the way they are playing.

Within two minutes the ball was being moved at pace across the field with two long cut out passes from Sam Butterworth then Todd O’Brien finding Dan Kaufman who raced home from twenty metres. Lewis Sheridan converted, 6 -0.

It’s not just the classy rugby that’s paying dividends. The forwards are digging deep and making the hard yards up the middle of the park from where the backs are capitalising and grabbing the tries. This was in evidence as Callum Marriot, Matty Moores and Si Moore took the drives and worked their team up field. O’Brien found Paul Brearley who showed how good a player he has become as he managed to ground the ball despite the attention of three defenders, 10 – 0.

The introduction of Mark Biggins added even more steel to the home side as he looked for work all over the field leading the Leeds coach to comment ‘that lad charges more than a wounded bull’. Not content with the attack, he then set about a crusade to tackle every member of the opposition, a feat he must have achieved in no time with a phenomenal work rate.

Biggins was involved in the next try as he again broke the line eventually being brought down. He sprung back up with a quick play-the-ball which allowed O’Brien the opportunity to throw an outrageous dummy. Accompanied by an equally outrageous side step, it gave him the space to sprint 50m before leaving the full back clutching at thin air as he grabbed Mayfield’s third. Sheridan converted, 16 – 0 with only fifteen minutes on the clock.

Mayfield were unlucky not to increase the lead after 20 minutes when Luke Sampson shrugged off two defenders to make thirty yards. Liam Whalley carried the move on and deserved more as he was denied a score as he was brought down by the defence.

It took 20 minutes but Leeds finally got their act together in defence with the loose forward and, number eight getting more involved, they managed to fight their way into the home side's ten. With the defensive line set, the acting half back threw the dummy and dived over for what, must be said, was a soft try to concede, 16 – 4.

Both sides were playing a fast open game and the mistakes began to creep in. Mayfield's go forward was, as coach Sam Butterworth said, ‘very good’. With tries disallowed for a forward pass and then the player being held up over the line, Biggins, Luke Sampson and Matty Moores showed willingness for work and at the base of everything they did were O’Brien and Butterworth. East Leeds showed they were a class side with the way they fought back into the game and refused to go down without a fight.

The teams looked evenly matched in the second half and, at 16 – 4, the next score was crucial. Coach Calland made sure the next score was his as he appeared to be held in the tackle; he feigned an offload and rolled round the defenders who loosened their grip allowing him to power free and sprint twenty metres for a very important try. Sheridan converted, 22 – 4.

East Leeds again fought back pinning Mayfield in their own twenty with some fierce defence.

A Butterworth kick settled in the opposition in the goal area where the centre picked up the ball only to be instantly tackled to the ground by Jack Sampson, who had raced eighty metres to give his side a well earned break in the pressure.

Mayfield again looked for the score and were unlucky again as Mitch Spackman and Biggins combined to give Calland the position from where he powered over but was unable to ground the ball.

Mayfield were tiring now and the visitors sensed this taking advantage of the penalties awarded and the gaps that were now appearing.

With ten minutes remaining they made the most of the situation, reducing the deficit as Mayfield failed to cover out wide 22 -10.

Within five minutes they had again exploited a tiring home defence to cross under the sticks, 22- 16.

With six minutes left and just six points in the game, Mayfield’s fantastic home support started fearing the worst. O’Brien steadied the ship leading by example at the front where he likes to play.

The crowd responded and the team dug deep for the last five minutes, doing enough to keep the visitors at bay and inflicting the defeat on the side who have only lost two games this season.

This was a superb first half performance with Butterworth and Brearley at the heart of it. New signing, Callum Marriot, made a workman-like debut being very able in his defence.

Biggins Mitch Spackman and Matty Moores led the way with Sam Butterworth and Paul Brearley prompting and coaxing their team mates.

Another great all round team performance but the way teams are coming back in the second half of games is a worry for the coaches and something they will have to work on.

There were good performances all over the pitch and the three groups of sponsors all selected a different MOM which is testament to the team spirit and ability being displayed at the moment. They were Mark Biggins, Paul Brearley and Todd O’Brien.