Rugby league: West Hull 26 - 8 Mayfield

Mayfield's season came to an end in Humberside on Saturday 30 September at the hands of a very good West Hull side.

Mayfield took three coachloads of spectators over as well as several cars and the support was absolutely fantastic. But it just wasn't Mayfield's day.

Mayfield looked like they hadn't got off the bus for long periods of the game and their hosts were on their game from the start. Both sides put in a strong start but Wests always had the upper hand, their speed of play and ferocious defence were too much for Mayfield to handle but for the first 15 minutes they kept them at bay.

Then on fifteen, quick play saw Mayfield pulled out on the left and as the ball switched right Wests second rower broke through and found his winger in space and he scored in the corner, the kicker landed the touchline conversion to give his side a 6 - 0 lead.

Mayfield then enjoyed their best period of the game as Kristian McVeigh found Harry Sheridan with a great ball. Sheridan made 40 yards before being caught with a strong tackle. His side then pressed the Hull line with Dev Long, Sam Wright and Sean Penkywicz orchestrating the plays. Ben Metcalfe, Joe Taira and Travis Long ran hard as they tried to breach the line but Hull put three and four men in every tackle to deny them. McVeigh popped up again as he chased a Devlin Long kick. The Hull winger failed to take the ball and as he has done all season McVeigh pounced to round his man and open Mayfield's account, the conversion was unsuccessful, 6 - 4.

The game had now reached an important stage and whoever came through this was going to be victorious. Hull pressured Mayfield and when the ball was dropped it was Hull who reacted first and capitalised on the mistake within minutes they had once again opened the defence and doubled their tally, 12 - 4.

Sam Butterworth's side then felt the pressure increase as Si Moore was sent to the bin, Wests increased the intensity and the discipline started to slip and the penalties crept in, one of which was converted, 14 - 4. 

Mayfield were trying their best to get back into the game and they almost succeeded with some smart rugby, both centres, James McDaid and Dakota Tolhurst tried hard but were cut down at every opportunity. Another penalty under the sticks on the stroke of half time saw the home side take the two points on offer and they went in at half time with a 16 - 4 lead. 

 

 

The second half belonged to West Hull and the first score was always going to be crucial and it went their way as Mayfield began to tire. 22 - 4.

There were some bright spells for the Rochdale side and again they shone in spells but at this level in a game of such magnitude you need to do that for 80 minutes. A Harry Sheridan try narrowed the gap but that was never going to be enough, 22 - 8.

West Hull then rounded off the scoring with a try in the corner, 26 - 8.

Mayfield were left bitterly disappointed after this game, a game they truly thought they could win, but it was not to be and its back to the drawing board for next season. 

But what a season it has been for Mayfield, last season they had to wait until the last game of the season to see if they would keep their Premier Division status, they managed this on points difference alone. To go from that to finishing 3rd and making the semi final of the play offs in the space of just 12 months is a magnificent achievement.