Rugby League: Mayfield 28 - 14 Kells

Mayfield breathed a massive sigh of relief as the whistle went at the end of this relegation battle with fellow strugglers Kells.

Mayfield started strongly with Matty Hadden taking the ball to the Kells line Sam Butterworth and Dec Sheridan then combined to put Wayne English in for a well taken early score. Zac Baker added the two.

Kells buoyed by a brilliant victory at Siddal last week showed that they knew they were in a fight for survival and they came back strongly with only a very robust Mayfield defence keeping them out. Lewis Butterworth, Liam Whalley and Matt Calland were particularly strong out wide while down the middle the forwards were solid once again. A superb try saver from English kept Mayfield in front.

Mayfield pushed forward again with Zac Baker and he was unlucky not to increase Mayfield's lead as he was held short.

Kells worked upfield pressuring the Mayfield line and were rewarded when a speculative kick wasn’t dealt with. The livewire Kells stand-off seized on the ball and darted over for a converted try to level the scores.

Kells began giving away needless penalties which Mayfield received gratefully, making the most of the easy yards and they were unlucky on more than one occasion not to score.

It took a typical hookers play from acting half to break the Cumbrians defence in the end, as Cole Connolly showed strength and tenacity to force his way over. Baker added the two.

The second half saw a nervous start for Mayfield and it took a sterling effort in defence to keep the visitors at bay.

Luke Fowden, Zac Baker and Callum Marriott were solid but then a nothing kick saw Dec Sheridan try to flick the loose ball to brother Lewis but the Kells centre nipped through and caught the ball racing forty metres to level the score.

A poor kick from Kells was fielded by Whalley on his own ten; he set off for the try line with two defenders on his heels but with five metres to go he somehow found the energy to accelerate away for a well taken try. Baker was just wide with the conversion attempt.

Kells were awarded a pen which they converted for 16 -14.

This was the last time they bothered the scorers as Paul Brearley and Matt Calland injected some pace and power into their game and this, along with the reintroduction of Connolly, fired the Mayfield team and they ran in two more converted tries. Marriott was unstoppable from a neat pass from Connolly and then a well-orchestrated play from Brearley was finished by Baker, who also converted both for a 28 - 14 final scoreline.

Fowden took the man-of-the-match award for a powerful performance.

With Normanton going down to Hunslet the win sees Mayfield rise two places, out of the relegation zone but only on points difference, with only three games left this season.