Rugby League: Mayfield in Challenge Cup

James Connaughton, Mayfield Rugby League

Rochdale Mayfield are in Ladbrokes Challenge cup action on Saturday with a tough tie at Cumbrian side Kells.

Kells, like Mayfield, play their rugby in the country’s showcase division, the Kingstone Press NCL Premier Division. The sides met twice last season with Mayfield triumphing in both games, a Paul Brearley hat trick seeing them through 24 – 28 at Kells in August.

All that counts for nothing as the experienced Mayfield coaching team of Matt Calland and Sam Butterworth know all too well.

This is the Challenge Cup, the greatest cup competition in world rugby, and it is no respecter of reputations.

Mayfield will take to the field  knowing that if they are to achieve their ambition and progress to the next round they must pull out all the stops.

This will be a young Mayfield side but there may be a recall for one or two of the more mature players to steady the ship and lend their experience to the game.

Kells finished three places below Mayfield last season in seventh position having struggled to score many points, finishing with an average of just seventeen per game compared to Mayfield’s 29, but Calland and Butterworth have taken no chances having the squad in for extra training sessions over the last week and having made the decision to travel to Whitehaven on Friday night they have stated their intent to win this one.

Youngsters like James Connaughton, Zac Hartley Matty Ashton, Matty Chrimes and Joe Schofield, who have all featured so far this season, and top try scorer Kieran Harmer have all made a good case for a shirt but at the end of the day there are only seventeen spots available and Calland and Butterworth will put out what they believe is the team to combat the big Cumbrians and come back with a place in the third round draw.

Fixture
11-02-17
Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Second Rround
Kells v Mayfield
Kick off 2.00pm