Rugby League: Conference Challenge Trophy Final - Rochdale Mayfield 24 - 20 Hunslet Club Parkside

Victorious Mayfield team: Conference Challenge Trophy Final - Rochdale Mayfield 24 - 20 Hunslet Club Parkside

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Mayfield took the silverware in a tough and enthralling Conference Challenge Trophy final at The Manchester Regional Athletics Centre on Saturday, victorious over a strong Hunslet side that were confident of a win.

Mayfield knew their game plan had to be quick and disciplined play, and they started well, marching up the field and drawing the first of many penalties for a high tackle. Zac Hartley converted.

Hunslet responded well and took the lead with a try when Mayfield failed to number up on their right hand side.

Mayfield tried to open and quicken the play but Hunslet's heavier pack, and willingness to concede penalties to slow the play, dragged the game into an arm wrestle.

Mayfiled props Simon Moore, James Shaw stood up strong and when Declan Sheridan came on, his swift play began to find the gaps.

Aidan Gleeson was stopped just short and on the next play Lewis Sheridan burst through the line and flicked a sweet inside pass for the supporting Paul Brearley to score untouched under the posts. Zac Hartley converted.

The Yorkshire side were quick on attack and dangerous on the Mayfield line, but led by Zac Baker and Rhys Carruth the defence held firm.

Hunslet lost a player to the sin bin for persistent high tackles, and Mayfield eventually made them pay as with the half time whistle looming. Matt Calland came on another neat inside pass and refused to be stopped, powering over the line from 30 metres out. Zac Hartley converted.

Half time: Mayfield 14 - 6 Hunslet Club Parkside

Most in the 1,200 strong crowd knew Hunslet had shown enough to suggest they could come back and that strong refereeing would be needed to curb their repeated trait of running in on any confrontation.

It was Mayfield though that lost their discipline.

Firstly, they failed to re-start correctly and conceded possession and position that led to a simple Hunslet converted try.

Then with a dangerous Hunslet attack stopped 20 metres out, Zac Baker reacted when hit illegally. The Hunslet player was sin binned for a second time, but as so often happens, the retaliator received the greater punishment, Munya Samanyanga seeing red on the report of a touch judge.

Simple fast wide passing saw Hunslet level the score.

Mayfield brought on Sean Watkins to steady the ship, but his late shoulder charge saw him sin binned and Mayfield two men down.

Hunslet took the lead minutes later as Mayfield failed to read a similar play.

Hunslet settled down and played solid rugby league but Mayfield pressed hard, forcing penalties that Chris Hough converted to put Mayfield within ahead and eat up the sin bin time.

With just 10 minutes remaining Mayfield were looking for the winning score but gaps were hard to find. Both Matt Calland and Rhys Carruth were bundled into touch and the clock ran down.

Then came the game breaker, with just a couple of minutes left Rhys Carruth challenged for a high kick to the corner and as the Hunslet defender knocked the ball down, Sean Watkins pounced to grab the loose ball and score. Chris Hough calmly slotted the conversion over. 

At 24-20 Hunslet had just seconds to hit back, and they earned a penalty in kicking range from the kick off, but two points wasn't enough and Mayfield defended out the game to ecstatic full time celebrations.

Declan Sheridan was awarded the 'Steve Gartland Man of the match' trophy, but he was pushed close by brother Lewis Sheridan, prop forwards Aidan Gleeson, Simon Moore, Seta Tala and James Shaw, along with try scorers Matt Calland and captain Paul Brearley, who received the trophy from Brad and Liam Gartland in memory of their much missed father, Steve.

Mayfield Team: Lewis Sheridan. Munya Samanyanga, Matt Calland, Rhys Carruth, Lee Registe. Zac Baker, Zak Hartley. James Shaw, Callum Ogden, Simon Moore, Chris Hough, Callum Marriott, Paul Brearley. Aidan Gleeson, Declan Sheridan, Sean Watkins, Seta Tala.