Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield club crest

After going down to the top of the table Hunslet last week, Mayfield entertain the bottom of the league Wigan St Pats, at Mayfield Sports Centre on Saturday 22 July.

St Pats are not having a good season with only three wins from 14 starts leaving them rooted at the foot of the division. Mayfield on the other hand, had been having a great season until their blip last month, which has seen them lose three of their last four games. Despite this, they are still up in fourth place with a game in hand.

Saturday could see Mayfield get back on track, all going to plan. Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood are hoping for a boost with four of their eight injured players facing fitness tests before the game. Si Moore, Travis Long, Jack McConnachie and Seta Tala are all hoping to report fit and be available for selection. Whatever the outcome with these injuries, the coaches are looking for an 80 minute performance, and if they'd got that last week they would have taken the two points at Hunslet. The strength in depth at the minute is really good, not many teams could go to Hunslet with eight players missing from the squad and still push the league leaders so close. So with at least a couple of players back, Butterworth will be looking for a comprehensive win and a good performance, with his side improving on their discipline, sticking to a clear game plan and above all maintaining the intensity for the full game. 

Andy Reed and Craig White take the NWML side to Wigan on Saturday afternoon to take on Golborne Parkside. Golborne are in second place in the division so a tough encounter is on the cards. That said this is a good time for Mayfield to be going to Golborne, with players expected to be available from the NCL side if all goes to plan. On top of that they have just had two good wins on the bounce for the first time this season, both away from home. Last weeks win at Leigh Miners was very pleasing, Miners were a good side and to beat them at their own ground is something special. Reed knows that if he gets a full side out today it could well be three out of three for the boys. 

Wiggy Whatmore and Tyler White's Mayfield Ladies are at home again on Sunday 23 July and they are looking to get back to winning ways. They went down last time to a very well organised Elland side. This week they will be looking to put that result behind them as they take to the field on Sunday at Mayfield Sports Centre.

Mayfield will be looking to both experienced half backs, Jess Hopkins and Michelle Butterworth, to get them moving round the pitch and the mobile pack to get on top of their opposite numbers early on. There's an old saying in rugby league 'the backs score most of the points but it's the forwards who win you the game', and all three of the Mayfield open age teams will do well to remember that this weekend.

Saturday 22 July 2023

• NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v Wigan St Pats, kick-off 2.30pm
• NWML Division 2: Golborne Parkside v Mayfield, kick-off 2.30pm

Sunday 23 July 2023

• Ladies: Mayfield Women v Leigh Miners, kick off 2pm