Rugby league: Hunslet 16 - 12 Mayfield

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

James McDaid

Mayfield travelled to Leeds on Saturday 15 July knowing that if they were to win this game it would relight their season, and that very nearly happened.

Once again these two teams provided a true spectacle of rugby league giving their all for 80 action-packed minutes. Hunslet gained the upper hand early on with a try out wide and the vocal home support thought they were on their way, 4 - 0.

Mayfield had other ideas, despite fielding a team once again with several enforced changes, Sam Butterworth's side responded well and went straight back at the home side, with Devlin Long and Sam Wright orchestrating the plays. It was Long who levelled the scores with a great try and Jordan Parr gave his side the lead with the conversion, 4 - 6.

Mayfield were without a doubt the better team in the first half and proved this as the powerful centre James McDaid forced his way through the defence for his side's second score, again converted by Parr to make it 4 - 12.

Mayfield had more chances but just failed to turn them into points. Late call-up, Charlie McClure, was particularly impressive making three or four clean breaks and there are not many players who do that against Hunslet on their own ground. This lad showed he is on the way to being a great asset to his club. 

The half time break disrupted the game, and Mayfield's flow, they came back a different side as the discipline slipped and the game plan went out of the window. Hunslet on the other hand, couldn't have been happier, they used the break to regroup and came at Mayfield full on. This caught the Rochdale side out and they let a soft try in with 15 minutes gone, the conversion cut the gap to just two points 10 - 12.

Hunslet sensed a fightback and dialled up the intensity. The Mayfield defence was working overtime as they repelled wave after wave of Hunslet attack but with a couple of regular forwards missing, the hard graft started to take its toll. Hunslet pushed on and ten minutes later their winger raced away to score again and put his side back in the lead, 16 - 12.

Mayfield regrouped but couldn't get another score and the game finished with Hunslet taking the spoils. Butterworth was absolutely gutted after the game knowing this was one they could and should have won. There were a lot of positives to come from the game not least that with several players missing Mayfield still had enough strength in depth to take the league leaders all the way to the wire. There were some great performances, notably from McDaid, Long and McClure.

The Hunslet coaching staff named Sam Wright as man of the match.