Rochdale Mayfield in Conference Challenge Trophy final

James Shaw: Mayfield v Wath Brow

Rochdale Mayfield are in the Conference Challenge Trophy final at the Manchester Regional Arena on Saturday afternoon (KO 1.30pm).

Their opponents, Hunslet Club Parkside from Leeds, are an unknown quantity as far as Mayfield are concerned.

They have played this season in the NCL second division and have won promotion as champions.

They won 20 out of 22 games amassing almost 900 points along the way, an impressive average of around forty points per game, whilst at the same time only conceding an average of 12 per game.

They are a quality side with quality players in key positions.

In Luke O’Malley they have a pacey free scoring full back with twenty one tries to his credit in the league campaign and big prop Jamie Fields who has sixteen tries and can kick goals from anywhere with 104 to his credit.

On current form though Mayfield fear no one and have quality right through the side, as they showed with the stunning 50 – 16 demolition of Wath Brow Hornets last week.

Mayfield have some of the best individual players at this level with the likes of Paul Brearley, Callum Marriott, Aidan Gleeson, Declan and Lewis Sheridan and the new crop of youngsters who coaches Matt Calland and Sam Butterworth have bloodied this season, Lee Registe, Zac Baker, Zac Hartley and Callum Ogden to name but a few.

At the moment these individuals are gelling well as a team and will go into this game brimming with confidence and relishing the prospect of playing at the arena in their biggest final in many years and with Calland himself at the helm anything is possible.

To come out victorious though they will have to be on top of their game not just their famed attacking play but also their defence which, at times has been a little suspect.

They have worked hard on this at training this week and will look to put that into practice as they take to the pitch.

The coaches have a real dilemma in team selection with only the vastly experienced Sam Butterworth on the injury list with hamstring trouble.

There are two supporter’s coaches going to the final, at the moment they are both full, contact club for any cancellations, cost of coach is £10.

Plus admission on the gate at £5.00 OAPs £2.00 and children £1.00 family tickets admitting two adults plus two children are £10.00. departure time is 12.00 sharp.

Free parking at the stadium - address is Rowsley street M113FF.