Rochdale Mayfield 54 - 4 Hull Dockers

Photo: Ian and Brennan Neild

Sean Watkins, Rochdale Mayfield

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Mayfield completed a routine victory over a struggling Hull Dockers side, scoring 11 tries and conceding just one, in a victory that keeps them in touch with the top of the table.

Dockers have won just two of their fixtures this season so far, but one of them was against a lacklustre Mayfield a couple of months ago, so Mayfield had something to prove to the large crowd that gathered in the sunshine in Castleton on Saturday.

Mayfield had a hard week in prospect with three games in seven days, and with this in mind they included under 18s Zak Baker and Munya Samanyanga, whilst veteran playmakers Sam Butterworth and Chris Hough sat this one out.

The first 10 minutes were tight as Dockers showed they had come to play with strong defence that kept Mayfield at bay.

Simon Moore and Mark Biggins drove hard at their defence though and drew penalties with quick play the balls and Callum Marriott burst through the line to deliver a sublime offload to the supporting Jack Sampson, who dived over for a try. The conversion was missed.

An opportunity to extend the lead was missed when Sean Watkins, in sparkling form on his return from injury, had a try disallowed for a forward pass in back play.

Dockers were buckling under the strain of strong defence and varied attack and Liam Whalley pounced on a simple Paul Brearley grubber kick through the line for a try.

The two combined again when Brearley took a ball from the scrum 30 metres out and found an unstoppable Whalley on a great line with a short pass. Lewis Sheridan converted.

Munya Samanyanga was eager for work and a drive to the middle trampled a Dockers defender.

After the injury stoppage, Sean Watkins showed great pace to round the Dockers defence for a try on the right.

With half time looming Callum Marriott chased down another grubber into the in-goal. Lewis Sheridan converted.

Hlaf time: Rochdale Mayfield 24 - 0 Hull Dockers

Mayfield carried at the start of the second half where they had left off in the first -and with Dockers trying to get round the defence rather than through it, Lewis Sheridan intercepted on half way to race in untouched. He converted.

Sean Watkins ntercepted with 80 metres to go and showed a clean pair of heels to score his second try of the day.

Dockers avoided a duck when they scored a try following a rare Mayfield error.

Lewis Sheridan got his second try when Munya Samanyanga took a wide Declan Sheridan pass, skipped inside and past two defenders, and threw a wide pass to Sheridan to score on the left.

Samanyanga turned try scorer - swift passing to the left gave him space in the corner, and he dived over for a try. Lewis Sheridan's off day with the boot continued when, from the left touchline, under the close scrutiny of his mentor Sam Butterworth in the dugout, his conversion attempt ended up further away than it started.

Sean Watkins took his hat trick when smart short passing on the line by Declan Sheridan and Zak Baker gave him the space to squeeze over, and after Lewis Sheridan's shocker, Zak Baker took over the kicking and converted.

Liam Whalley rounded off an accomplished performance when got his hat-trick with a try right in front of his fan club in the right corner.

Mayfield had scored some spectacular tries and speedy backs Munya Samanyanga and Jack Sampson rightly took the plaudits from the Sponsors Brent Andrews, Mimi and Ace Electrical, but the victory was built on the strong showing of the forwards, Mark Biggins, Simon Moore, Seta Tala and Callum Marriott. Sean Watkins and Liam Whalley, each with a hat-trick worked tirelessly with great skills and effort. Man-of-the-match went to Paul Brearley for his direction and probing in attack.

Mayfield celebrated  with an eye on Wednesday’s trip to Cumbria and Wath Brow.

Mayfield Team: Jack Sampson. Rob Kershaw, Liam Whalley, Rhys Carruth, Munya Samanyanga. Paul Brearley, Lewis Sheridan. Simon Moore, Callum Ogden, Mark Biggins, Callum Marriott, Sean Watkins, Zak Baker. Declan Sheridan, Jack Rush, Nick Hargreaves, Seta Tala.