Rugby league: Kells 26 - 18 Mayfield

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Ben Metcalfe played well away at Kells

After a torturous journey through endless diversions, Mayfield eventually kicked off this NCL Premier fixture against Kells in good spirit on Saturday 1 July.

Within 60 seconds of the whistle, Mayfield had crossed the line under the sticks courtesy of good interplay between Dev and Travis Long. Devlin reaped the benefit, touching down for the opening score, Jordan Parr added the two, 0 - 6.

Both teams slugged it out for the next 20 minutes in a somewhat dour and uninspiring game. Mayfield had fielded a strong side but were missing two important players in Dec Sheridan and Sam Wright. As the game progressed this became more apparent as Mayfield ran out of ideas and creativity. The Mayfield pack were doing ok driving hard and tackling equally as hard. With 25 minutes gone, they found themselves in a good position and Sean Penkywicz did well to find Joe Taira with a good ball. Taira showed he has lost none of his power as his strength and determination saw him carry four defenders over the line as he scored, Parr again converted, 0 - 12.

Then it all went wrong for Mayfield as the the discipline slipped and they wandered away from the game plan.  Playing down the slope and with the wind at their backs they should have had a good lead at this stage, instead they were just two tries to the good and Kells were making the most of the numerous penalties. With half time on the horizon, Taira was given ten minutes in the bin after what was adjudged to be a flop. Mayfield struggled to regroup and conceded three needless penalties in succession all in their own 20. Kells accepted this as an invitation and their scrum half dummied his way over the line for a converted try as the whistle went, 6 - 12. 

The second half started as the first finished, with Mayfield giving the penalties and possession away and the home side making good advantage of the position this gave them. With less than 20 minutes on the clock they had scored two more converted tries to take the lead, 18 - 12.

Realistically, Kells should never have been within touching distance of this Mayfield side but basic errors and senseless penalties saw to it that they were. It looked like Mayfield had woken up when a typical Nick Hargreaves drive made them realise they would have to work hard to pull this one out of the fire. The introduction of Harry Sheridan lifted the side as he started to cause problems. Mayfield started to play rugby and the try they scored five minutes later was pure class with great ball movement and awareness, finished off by Ben Metcalfe, Parr again converted to level the game at 18 points apiece.

If Mayfield had played to their potential and stuck to the game plan and structure demanded by the coaches this game would have been out of reach to Kells by now, but that wasn't the case and Sam Butterworth's side were left chasing the result. It was a chase they would not win as Taira was again showed the yellow card for an alleged high tackle, the penalty gave Kells a two point lead and then, to seal the game they managed to finish the scoring with a converted try, 26 - 18.

Come the end of the season this could be the game Mayfield look back on with regret and know they could and in fact should have won.