Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Mayfield's first team is at home this weekend against Kells ARLFC

Mayfield triumphed in the Oldham Standard Cup on Good Friday against Waterhead Warriors at the Ashton Rugby Union ground, This was a comprehensive 38 - 18 victory against a good Waterhead side.

Mayfield's tries came from Lewis Butterworth, Devlin Long, James McDaid, Sean Penkywicz, Dakota Tolhurst, Callum Ogden, and Seta Talatoka. Devlin Long added five conversions to cap a man of the match performance.

Mayfield return to their bread and butter on Saturday 15 April with a National Conference League Premier Division fixture against this year's surprise package Kells. The Cumbrians are newly promoted and have taken everyone by surprise with the way they have started their campaign. Played four won three is a good start in anyone's book. Mayfield are a game behind Kells after their heroics in the Betfred Challenge Cup and are looking forward to getting their play off challenge back on track.

Coaches Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood are pleased with the start so far with some excellent on the road wins to their credit. At home they are looking to make the Mayfield Sports Centre a fortress and as such anyone who comes here will have to be on their top game to come away with anything. The Mayfield camp are confident of getting a result against anyone and are playing some great rugby with good discipline, which is something that has let them down at crucial times in the past. Less penalties given, means more possession retained and quite simply the opposition can't score when you are in possession.

The new Aussie lads who have come in this season are all going well and have added a new dimension to the team, they all have an excellent work ethic and work extra hard. Be it in attack or defence. Dev Long and Sam Wright are working well at 6 and 7 while Dakota Tolhurst and Travis Long look strong at second row and centre respectively. Returning players are also making their mark, Joe Taira and Seta Talatoka are ripping it up in the pack along with Callum Ogden who has made the switch from hooker to loose forward look easy.

Kells will arrive with a big mobile pack and a very useful pair of half-backs to move them around the pitch but Mayfield will be looking to catch them cold after their three hour coach trip and rack some points up early on and take the two points. Saturday's game is sponsored by Ace Electrical and The Mayfield Supporters Club.

Andy Reid takes his North West Men's League side on the road on Saturday with a short trip down the M62 to Warrington to take on second placed Burtonwood Bridge. The home side have started very well with three wins from four and will be a tough challenge for the young Mayfield side, but as always they are confident of doing well. There is some real quality in the squad with the likes of Joe Schofield, Billy Pirouzan and Trav Holden under the guidance of old heads Rob Kershaw and Paul Hancock.

Fixtures Saturday 15 April 2023

• NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v Kells, kick off 2.30pm
• NWML Division 2: Burtonwood v Mayfield, kick off 2.30pm