Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield club crest

After last week's convincing win on the road at Castleford, Mayfield hope to carry on their winning ways as they entertain the division's 'dark horses' York Acorn.

After an inauspicious season in 2023, when they only had nine wins and finished in the bottom half of the table, Acorn have lit up their season so far, with a brilliant run in the Betfred Challenge Cup which saw them beat Orrel St James, Cornwall and Wath Brow, they began their league campaign last week with a home win against Kells.

As always Mayfield will go into this game playing their own style of rugby and will be confident, as long as they stick to the plan, that they will pick up another two important points. There are some tough decisions to be made for the coaches this week a several players come back into contention for a place in the team. Dec Sheridan, Lewis Butterworth, Zac Baker, Sean Slater, Joe Taira and Nick Hargreaves have all declared themselves fit. Seven quality players wanting to force their way into a team that that has just won convincingly away from home. That's the kind of problem coaches dream of. Butterworth and Wood will sit down after training this week and go through their options. No decision will be taken lightly and all will be done with the interest of the team at heart. 

Andy Reed and Craig White take their NWML side down the East Lancs Road to face Leigh Miners. Courtesy of a cry off last week Mayfield now sit top of the league with two wins from two games while Miners have yet to pick up a point after defeats at West Bank and Hindpool. Andy Reed knows this means nothing though as anyone in rugby league will tell you, there are no easy games at Miners ground. With so many players ready to return to the first team Andy is looking forward to having a strong side out today and will be confident they can pick up another win. 

Saturday 23 March 2024

• NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v York Acorn, kick-off 2.30pm
• NWML Division 2: Leigh Miners v Mayfield, kick-off 2.30pm