Mayfield 40 - 18 Egremont

Mayfield had set a target at training last week to hold the opposition to 12 points and to improve their push forward. They were unlucky not to achieve both of these goals as Egremont managed to score on the final whistle to give themselves 18 points.

From the whistle Egremont looked like a team who meant business with their winger unlucky not to score after three minutes as Rob Kershaw and Dave Wood bundled him over the corner flag before he could touch down.

Only sterling defence from Wood, Ben Butterworth and Callum Marriott kept the visitors out for the first 15 minutes as they tried hard to get on the score sheet.

It took Mayfield until the 17th minute before they settled down to some decent rugby and they were rewarded as they received a penalty for a high shot.

Sam Butterworth fed Paul Brearley who managed to work his way over for the opening score. Converted by Butterworth.

Matt Calland almost extended the lead after chasing a Brearley kick through only for the ball to just run dead before he got to it.

Egremont pushed forward again but the Mayfield line held them at bay so the scrum half put in a little grubber to try and find a way through. He had not accounted for the elusive Dec Sheridan who picked the ball up on the line, evaded the would be tacklers and went the full length of the field to touch down under the posts. Converted by Butterworth.

Half time: Mayfield 12 - 0 Egremont

The second half started much the same but Mayfield had to shake up the team after losing Paul Brearley to a hamstring injury - Brearley has been massively influential this season and his loss could have been a turning point in the game.

Calland swapped his side around and they responded immediately as Sam Butterworth again rolled back the years as he dummied his way over and then converted his own try.

Mayfield struggled to maintain the intensity as they tried to restructure.

Dave Wood, Callum Marriott and Liam Whalley were immense in defence as they tried to hold the visitors at bay and Aidan Gleeson aided by Nick Hargreaves tried to find a way to break defence down.

Mayfield began to allow the penalties to creep in and Egremont made the most of the possession as their loose forward crossed the line to narrow Mayfield's lead.

The move of Dec Sheridan to half back worked well and he linked with brother Lewis with both of them throwing some brilliant passes out and with Butterworth at second man the ball was crossing the field in three passes.

Sheridan caught the Egremont defence out as they expected the pass he cut back right through the line for his second try.

Mayfield were in complete control and they secured the win with a brilliant ten minute spell of rugby league with the Sheridan brothers calling the shots along with Sam Butterworth.

There followed three quick scores as first Calland put Dave Wood in.

Then Sheridan made the most of position from Marriott, Jake Boardman and Roydon Gilletts powerful running, again dummying his way over.

Sheridan then turned provider as he broke through and the put in the perfect kick which brother Lewis took brilliantly to grab Mayfield's final score. Butterworth converted all three to clock up the forty points for the umpteenth time this season.

Mayfield were tiring now and Egremont, to their credit, saw this and lifted their game for the final ten minutes. They scored two more converted tries to give the score a more respectable look but the truth is Mayfield outclassed them for most of the game and deserved the win.

This win took Mayfield to the top of the league for the first time this season.

The game was sponsored by Heron Bakers of Rochdale and Dave Marcroft's Ace Electrical and their man-of-the-match award went to Dec Sheridan.