Lock Lane 16 - 30 Mayfield

Sam Butterworth, Ben Butterworth - Mayfield

Mayfield showed fantastic spirit in Castleford on Saturday as they returned to form with a resounding victory over another one of the division’s front runners, Lock Lane.

Mayfield started with a bang with Nick Hargreaves and Dave Wood charging down field before Paul Brearley slipped an inside pass to the supporting Eric Johnson who crossed the line for a Sam Butterworth converted try. 

It didn’t take Lock Lane long to get back in the game as Mayfield failed to play to the referees whistle after a perceived knock on; Lane picked the ball up and made the most of Mayfield's momentary lapse grabbing their first try.

Mayfield regained possession from the restart through Brearley and moments later Hargreaves was unlucky not to extend Mayfield's lead after he had the ball ripped out as he crossed the line.

It was the unstoppable Aidan Gleeson who was next on the score sheet as he stormed onto a short ball from Todd O’Brien. Butterworth again converted.

The game got a bit scrappy with both teams giving away needless penalties.

Dave Wood was lucky not to be injured after a cynical tackle from the opposition as he was collecting a ball in mid-air.

Mayfield gave away repeat penalties which gifted Lock Lane position and their big prop capitalised crossing to narrow Mayfield's lead.

Mayfield pushed on in perfect conditions with their large, noisy following cheering them all the way.

It was Lock Lane's turn to give away the repeat penalties and Mayfield responded brilliantly as O’Brien used Gleeson's run as a foil before darting through the line under the sticks right on the half time whistle. Butterworth converted.

Right from the start of the second half you could sense Mayfield meant business.

Within 10 minutes, quiet man Liam Whalley had bagged himself two tries, one of them a stunning fifty metre effort after slicing through the defensive line untouched. Both converted by Butterworth.

There were great breaks from Ben Butterworth after a charge down and Eric Johnson who was a thorn in the opposition’s side all afternoon but Lane upped the tempo as they clicked into gear.

The Lock Lane centre broke the line on the half way and a try seemed certain; Dec Sheridan though, hadn’t read the script as he chased the centre, who had a ten metre start, Sheridan refused to give up, he caught him as he was about to ground the ball, flipped him onto his back and somehow managed to force him over the dead ball line.

Mayfield didn’t get many more chances although Sheridan was unlucky to be pulled up as the referee spotted a forward pass as he went over for what would have been a deserved try.

The Rochdale side was tiring after their massive effort and a few cracks began to appear in the defence. Lock Lane scored two more unconverted tries but the result was never in doubt.

The performance from the Mayfield pack was outstanding against a much bigger opposition, never taking a backward step, being pushed forward by O’Brien and Johnson, who never stopped all afternoon. Also impressive were Nick Hargreaves and Sean Mulcahy. While in the backs Sheridan, Wood, Brearley and Seta Tala stood out.

The Lock Lane coaching staff gave the man-of-the-match award to Aidan Gleeson who once again showed he is one of the best forwards in the division.

This win lifted Mayfield to joint top of the league.

The only blackspot on the day was a last minute neck injury to Sean Mulcahy which left him needing hospital treatment.

Mayfield Team: Dec Sheridan, Komai Nualamatua, Dave Wood, Matt Calland, Rob Kershaw, Paul Brearley, Sam Butterworth, Ben Butterworth, Todd O’Brien, Aidan Gleeson, Eric Johnson, Liam Whalley, Nick Hargreaves, Sean Mulcahy, Seta Tala, Matty Ashton, George Yewdale.