Mayfield 44 – 24 Thatto Heath

Photo: Aidy Gleeson

Seta Tala looks for a way through

Lewis Sheridan returned for Mayfield on Saturday against Thatto Heath and he performed like he’d never been away turning in a man-of-the-match performance and linking brilliantly with brother Declan and Sam Butterworth to produce a breathtaking display of rugby league in the second half of this Kingstone Press NCL premier division game to turn the game upside and give Mayfield a decisive victory.

The game didn’t start well for Mayfield, with a dropped ball from the kick off allowing Thatto to gain possession and score with their first set, the full back adding a brilliant touchline conversion. One minute on the clock and Mayfield were 6 points down. This quietened the large crowd at the Mayfield Sports Centre.

It wasn’t long before Mayfield were camped on the Thatto line but there was no way through the rock solid defensive wall. Mayfield had three repeat sets in the Thatto ten metre zone but lacked the invention their opponents were showing.

Having quelled the onslaught, Thatto punted the ball for a superb 40/ 20 and were then awarded a penalty which put them within yards of the Mayfield line. Teams of this quality don’t waste chances like that and true to form they had soon doubled the lead after a great ball from the number eight put the centre in under the posts.

Mayfield were in real trouble looking ordinary against a class side. Again they fought back and again they were repelled with some outstanding defence.

Frustration began to show and Sam Butterworth was shown the yellow card after a moment of petulance; this again was a chance for Thatto and once more they didn’t waste it scoring within three tackles.

Things got worse for Mayfield as they lost Jack Sampson with a shoulder injury but the introduction of Declan Sheridan was the catalyst they needed as he provided a link between his brother and the ever youthful Butterworth. Before they could readjust fully Mayfield had again given away two soft penalties which Thatto gratefully accepted scoring again by the posts.

To all intents and purposes it looked like game over for Mayfield until Coach Matt Calland stepped up. With only two minutes till half time as Mayfield regained possession from the kick off the ball was worked wide and Calland powered over in the corner.

Thatto then had a man sent off for tripping Lewis Sheridan as he headed for the line, and things were looking brighter for Mayfield.

A penalty count at half time of 9 – 4 in favour of Thatto highlighted some of Mayfield's problems.

Half time: Mayfield 4 – 24 Thatto Heath

Calland and Butterworth concentrated on the positives during the half time talk and the players responded magnificently after gifting possession again as the ball went dead from the kick off.

With only four minutes of the half gone Eric Johnson was on hand to pluck an attempted chip over out of the air. He then raced eighty metres upfield before being hauled down. This could be seen as the game changer as his side visibly lifted as they followed him towards the line. The Sheridan brothers combined with Sam Butterworth as the ball crossed the field finding Rob Kershaw who did well to finish in the corner.

The crowd were on their feet now, sensing a comeback. The massive defensive efforts of the first half were now taking their toll on Thatto as Mayfield showed no sign of letting up with wave after wave of attack. Ben Butterworth, Gaz Ellison Jake Johnson and Sean Mulcahy worked overtime and this was rewarded as Aidan Gleeson made the most of the slight gaps which were now appearing as he crashed through for a Butterworth converted try.

The extra hours in the gym and on the training pitch were paying off for Mayfield as their superior fitness began to show. They now looked the better team with quality forwards coming into the fray as the inter changes worked; Joe Quanici and Callum Marriott hardly put a foot wrong as they lead the way, doing the hard work for the team.

Seta Tala again showed how he is maturing in the game and it was his good work that set the platform as Quanici grabbed another score to fetch his side within four points of the opposition.

Thatto rallied again at this stage, not wanting to relinquish their hard earned lead, but they couldn’t live with a resurgent Mayfield.

With 24 second half minutes on the clock, Declan Sheridan made a brilliant break from where Lewis Sheridan threw a fantastic long ball to find Sam Butterworth who jinked his way over to give his side the lead for the first time, converting his own try.

The rugby now being played by Mayfield was superb and a credit to the seventeen players in blue and white who took to the pitch. They took some criticism for last week's undisciplined performance so they must take the praise for the way they took hold of this game.

There was more to come as they stamped their superiority on the game; Calland found Rob Kershaw with a deft little pass which allowed the winger to squeeze in at the corner for his second. Butterworth converted brilliantly.

The game was now Mayfield's and they added two further tries from Liam Whalley and Aidan Gleeson, the latter being a gift after yet another fantastic break from Declan Sheridan. Both converted by Butterworth.

This was one of the best games seen at the Mayfield Sports Centre and it really whetted the appetite for the season ahead. The atmosphere at the club was fantastic, from the fireworks at the beginning, organised by Dunc Simpson and Mayfield's own pyrotechnician Dean Hartley, to the fireworks on the pitch organised by Calland and Butterworth.

From players gave their all and the man-of-the-match awards reflected this with three awards going to three different players. Eric Johnson, who had one of his best games in Mayfield colours, Aidan Gleeson who was again outstanding and Lewis Sheridan, why Hornets let this lad go was beyond the comprehension of most of the supporters at this game.

Mayfield Team: Seta Tala, Jack Sampson, Dave Woods, Matt Calland, Rob Kershaw, Sam Butterworth, Lewis Sheridan, Sean Mulcahy, Eric Johnson, Gaz Ellison, Liam Whalley, Ben Butterworth, Joe Quanici, Declan Sheridan, Aidan Gleeson, Callum Marriott, Jake Johnson.