Leigh Miners 39 – 16 Mayfield

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Big Joe sets off on a run for the line

Mayfield were up against it in this NWML trophy final even before they set off, losing two players to first team call ups put Dunc Simpson and Anthony Greaves side under pressure from the off.

With a good squad to select from the coaches left themselves and Ziggy Ahmed out of the line up.

The team set off in a good frame of mind full of positives on a scorching hot day.

Within one minute of kick off they had already lost prop forward Andy Battersby to a calf strain and he took no further part in the game leaving only three substitutes on a day when it really mattered.

Miners took advantage straight away to score a converted try.

Mayfield battled back taking the game to the strong Miners side and having a good spell of pressure on the line.

A lost ball on the last saw Miners make quick yards upfield and the winger dive in in the corner for another converted score.

Twenty minutes in and Nick Hargreaves had to leave the field after sustaining a cut eye, he was replaced by Stef Howard who had an immediate impact, speeding the game up. He produced the pass to Dave Devlin who showed great footwork to evade three or four defenders and go over for his sides first, converted by Marsland.

A patched up Hargreaves returned to the field and Mayfield started to show some promise, playing good rugby with a structured attacking plan.

Lee Atkinson and Dom Kershaw were calling the shots for Mayfield and the fans were treated to a good spell of rugby from both sides with Daley Schofield showing he has what it takes to be the latest in a long line of great Mayfield prop forwards.

The heat was taking its toll on the players and the experienced John Foy exploited this as he went through the gap and found Sean Snape in support, Snape powered his way over for another Marsland converted score.

Both teams were evenly matched now, fighting for supremacy and the next score was going to be crucial. Courtesy of a lucky bounce from a loose ball the score went Leigh’s way and they took an 18 – 12 lead into the interval.

Within ten minutes of the re-start Leigh had stretched the lead as they were the beneficiaries of two dubious refereeing decisions which gave them easy yards and good field position, which they took advantage of to score two tries.

Mayfield worked hard but the opposition's fitness began to tell.

The Percy brothers and Mark Nyland all had good spells working hard for the team as did George Yewdale at full back, while wingers Devlin and Luke Hartley did their share of work to relieve the load from the tiring forwards.

With 15 minutes to go Leigh scored again to effectively put the game beyond Mayfield.

Leigh added a drop goal for good measure before the powerful Nick Hargreaves somehow found the strength to charge forty metres and off load in the tackle to the supporting Luke Hartley who scored in the corner for Mayfield.

With a couple of minutes to go Leigh rounded off the scoring: 39 - 16.

The coaches found it hard to single out anyone for praise but thought the Man-of-the-Match should go to the hard working Lee Atkinson.

Although they lost this game Mayfield gave a great account of themselves with many positives coming in defeat.

If this side trained better they would without doubt be up there at the top of the table; with some quality players on the field, the major difference on the day was the fitness of the opposition.

With the cup now out of the way Simpson and Greaves are urging the players to build on this performance and get to training at the club - 6.30pm Tuesdays and Thursday.