Saddleworth 9 – 22 Mayfield

Aidan Gleeson on his way to the line

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Mayfield came away from Saddleworth on Saturday with two points in the bag and promotion to the Kingstone Press NCL premier division assured.

This was another good performance from the Rochdale side in a game played at a blistering pace from the start. It was a game both sides wanted to win albeit for different reasons.

Saddleworth started strongly with their pack trying to out muscle the Mayfield forwards but as has been proved time and again this season that just doesn’t happen.

It took ten minutes before the first try was scored and it went to the home side after their scrum half spotted a gap in the line.

Mayfield upped the pace, Saddleworth upped the physicality, with Declan Sheridan in particular receiving more than a couple of high shots, that went unpunished by the referee. The more attention Sheridan got the better he played, making break after break and it was his involvement that created the platform for Aidan Gleeson to crash over for a Sam Butterworth converted try.

Saddleworth pushed back and only strong defence from Matty Moores, Si Moore and Joe Qanuici prevented them from scoring again. Tempers frayed and the game got a little scrappy as both sides tried to assert their authority, Saddleworth sensed Mayfield were on the up and took the opportunity of a drop goal five minutes before half time.

With just a minute to go a break from Rob Kershaw took his side into the Saddleworth half where Brearley and Sheridan combined to find Butterworth out wide. He rounded the winger and somehow managed to touch down in the corner to give his side the lead at half time.

Apart from a penalty after five minutes, the second half belonged to Mayfield, only some forceful defence from the home side kept the score down, but they couldn’t stop the rampaging Gleeson as he crashed onto an inside ball from Todd O’Brien to extend his sides lead. Butterworth converted.

The try of the game came as Ryan Bradley shrugged off several defenders and raced forty metres before giving the supporting Seta Tala a great pass, he raced another forty for the final try again converted by Butterworth.

Mayfield outclassed their opponents in every department with Matty Moores, Joe Qanuici, and Aidan Gleeson being the pick of the forwards. While in the backs Butterworth, Sheridan and Liam Whalley all played well. Nick Hargreaves also had a good spell as he came off the bench.

The Saddleworth coach named Gleeson Man -of-the-Match but it was hard to single anyone out in what was a good team performance against a strong side who were out for a victory.

Mayfield Team: Declan Sheridan, Rob Kershaw, Liam Whalley, Matt Calland, Seta Tala, Paul Brearley, Sam Butterworth, Matty Moores, Todd O’Brien, Si Moore, Wayne Corcoran, Ryan Bradbury, Joe Qanuici, Aidan Gleeson, Niall Bradley, Nick Hargreaves, Gareth Ellison.