Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield club crest

The standard in the games this season in the NCL Premier Division has been superb with some absolutely cracking games seen at the Mayfield Sports Centre and Saturday's (5 August) game is likely to live up to that billing.

Mayfield play hosts to current champions West Hull in what promises to be a repeat of the classic between Mayfield and Hunslet back in May. West Hull are one of the top teams in the country at the moment and will take some beating but the same was said about Hunslet and Mayfield triumphed in that one after one of the best games ever seen at their Castleton ground.

In the reverse fixture in March, Mayfield were on the wrong end of a 28 - 10 score line and coaches Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood will be looking to avenge that defeat. Mayfield have faltered over the last six weeks or so but look to be getting back to something like their best now with a good win at York Acorn last week.

Last week's performance was patchy to say the least but there were glimpses of what they are capable of. Butterworth knows his team will have to do better this week but he knows they have it in them to beat anyone on their day. There were still eight players unavailable due to injury last week which makes the win even more impressive. Butterworth is looking to have Seta Talatoka, James McDaid and Sean Penkywicz back and available for selection today. This is a massive boost to the squad and sees players fighting for positions which is a very healthy place to be.

A win in this game puts Mayfield back in the fight for a top two spot, they currently have two games in hand on the teams above them and to beat these teams is absolutely necessary if they want to maintain that push.

Saturday 5 August 2023

• NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v West Hull, kick-off 2.30pm