Mayfield Preview

James Percy looking to impress on Saturday

Mayfield have the tough task of traveling to Leeds on Saturday where they face Oulton Raiders.

Oulton are fresh off the back of a very impressive away win at Myton last week so will be no pushovers.

They finished just one place below Mayfield last season and are looking to improve on that this time, so Mayfield will have to be at their best to come away with the two points.

Last week's opener was all the coaches could have asked for apart from a couple of defensive lapses they dominated the game completely. A couple of down sides to the game were the loss of tough front row forward Mark Biggins with a broken ankle and a less serious ankle injury to Lewis Sheridan. Sheridan will face a fitness test before selection.

This is a game Mayfield will be looking to win but it will take some doing against a quality side like Oulton.

Last season's game was a disappointing one for Mayfield going down 28 – 24 after paying the penalty for a slow start. Coaches and players alike will be determined to avoid a repeat and have been working extra hard in training to this end.

The players showed some good skill throughout the team in last week's win, with Paul Brearley, Lewis Sheridan, Sam Butterworth and Si Moore all outstanding.  Luke Sampson and Ben Butterworth also showed well. If they play to their potential Mayfield will be hoping they are good enough for the win.

Mayfield's second team have a home fixture against Portico Vine of St Helen's. Portico took part in a high scoring game last week going down 46 – 40 at Oldham St Anne's.

Mayfield also lost out narrowly away to Leigh Miners but they were pleased with the way they played and only lost out in the last ten minutes as fitness told on them. They had some star performers on the day with Ieaun Higgs making a successful return after a serious health scare.

Also doing well were the Percy brothers, Mark Nyland and Man-of-the-Match John Foy, who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.

Coaches Dunc Simpson and Anthony Greaves will be looking to build on the positives from that game and do enough to grab the first win. 

Fixtures: 08.03.14

NCL Div1: Oulton v Mayfield - Kick Off 2.30pm
NWML Div2: Mayfield v Portico - Kick Off 2.30pm