Rugby League: West Hull 18 – 2 Rochdale Mayfield

Wayne English, Mayfield

Kingstone Press National Conference League Premier Division

Mayfield’s National Conference League team travelled to Humberside on Saturday to face West Hull.

Forced into changes again due to other commitments and injuries, Mayfield welcomed back Jack Sampson and Lewis Sheridan from long term injuries, whilst Matty Chrimes returned from international duty and Josh Goodman made his second appearance for the club.

In the search of their third consecutive win, the Rochdale team started well - trading sets in warm and muggy conditions with both defences being on top. Mayfield showed control of the ball and began to gain the ascendancy, with Wayne English outstanding in bringing the ball back from deep and Paul Brearley massive in both defence and attack.

Mayfield had all the pressure and only heroic, and sometimes fortunate, scramble defence from the hosts saved their line. Jack Sampson and Lewis Butterworth were held just short, Aidy Gleeson was ankle tapped on his way to the line and held up over it, as were Liam Whalley and Paul Brearley in the first half but the game remained scoreless until West Hull conceded a penalty on the stroke of half time and Zac Baker slotted in through the posts for a 0-2 lead.

The second half started much as the first, with Mayfield pushing to score, but West Hull hung on and scored a breakaway try in the right corner from a suspiciously forward looking wide pass.

The score was now 6-2 and this seemed to knock the wind out of the Mayfield players' sails. Paul Brearley, Callum Marriott and Callum Ogden in particular put in big efforts to turn the game as Mayfield tried hard to find gaps but the hosts defence held firm and they added their second try from a kick into the in-goal that Jack Sampson just couldn’t regather.

With time running out at 12-2 Mayfield threw caution to the wind. Matty Chrimes, Wayne English and Declan Sheridan made breaks and went close, but to no avail. West Hull finished the scoring on the full time whistle with a try to make it 18-2, a scoreline that flattered the victors but also highlighted Mayfields failure to finish off a good attack.

Team; Wayne English. Lewis Butterworth, Matty Chrimes, Andy Taylor, Jack Sampson. Lewis Sheridan, Zac Baker. Simon Moore, Callum Ogden, Aidy Gleeson, Callum Marriott, Liam Whalley, Paul Brearley. Nick Hargreaves, Sean Mulcahy, Declan Sheridan, Josh Goodman.