West Hull 42 - 34 Mayfield

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Todd O'Brien diving over for his try

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Rochdale Mayfield made the trip to Humberside on Saturday hoping to consolidate their lead at the top of the Premier division, they came back with their tail between their legs after being out enthused, out smarted and out played for long periods of this game.

Right from the start Mayfield were under the cosh as an uncharacteristically poor kick off gave the hosts good position in the Mayfield half rather than seeing them pinned back in their own ten. Within two minutes they were pressing the Mayfield line and were quick to respond to a little kick through from the stand off to open the scoring.

This was a warning shot, but Mayfield took no notice and within ten minutes West Hull had added two more tries.

Only a smart ball steal from Lewis Sheridan on his own line prevented the hosts extending the lead on 14 minutes.

This only delayed the inevitable as West Hull again broke down field and a clever crossfield kick was collected by the centre who was judged onside by the officials, he accepted the gift gratefully as he added another converted try.

This Mayfield side have been in this position before having come back from a 24 point deficit at home to Thatto Heath, but with too many players missing from the team they seemed to have neither the desire nor the commitment to repeat that feat. The first twenty minutes had seen very little in the way of Mayfield possession and the first time they really competed they made it look easy with Aidan Gleeson storming upfield and laying off a short pass to the supporting Wayne Corcoran who crashed over to open his team's account. Sam Butterworth convertedd.

Matt Calland, never a player to accept defeat without giving his all to the cause, stepped up a gear and his interception on the half way saw him roll back the years as he sprinted fifty metres to place the ball under the posts. Butterworth again converted.

This should have been the spark Mayfield needed, and the crowd sensed another Mayfield comeback, but the team hadn't read the same script as the ball was coughed up straight from the restart and West Hull gratefully accepted the gift as they increased their lead.

Mayfield lost Todd O'Brien after a cynical late shoulder charge. Dec Sheridan moved infield and the combination gave Mayfield a boost; it wasn't long before Sheridan found Sam Butterworth who did the rest as he ghosted through the line for a great individual try.

Calland and Butterworth raked Mayfield over the coals during the half time break trying to instll in them the need to concentrate, improve their discipline and start playing the rugby they are capable of. This had little effect as a shell-shocked Mayfield lost the influential Paul Brearley after an unsavoury incident which saw him felled from behind in a fracas which inexplicably saw him dismissed along with his attacker and West Hull awarded the penalty.

Again they capitalised on the gift and added another try.

West Hull lost another man as their standoff went in with the elbow as Dec Sheridan was on the floor after being tackled.

This should have been enough for Mayfield to stage their comeback with a one man advantage and gaps appearing in the line. They upped the pace and showed glimpses of their real ability as Todd O'Brien, who had insisted on returning to the field, crossed for a fine try to narrow the gap.

There was plenty of individual effort but at this level this is not enough and Mayfield know that, a little composure at this stage would have surely seen them home but it just wasn't there, discipline again was a major issue and three penalties on the bounce saw West Hull pressing the line and from another penalty they took the two points from under the posts.

West Hull had regrouped and adapted to the fact they were two men down. This again paid dividends with quick play moving them upfield from where they added another converted score.

That was probably the score that sealed the game for them with Mayfield now needing to score four times to win.

Just to be sure West Hull then slotted over another gifted two pointer.

Mayfield never gave up and showed plenty of spirit as Komai weighed in with a brace of scores to lift his side.

Lewis Sheridan rounded off the scoring with a tenacious effort.

Mayfield were well beaten on the day by a side which in truth had they met the real Mayfield would not have been able to live with them. But that is how leagues are won and lost and Mayfield must now take a look at themselves.

Matt Calland said: “The side have slacked off with their attitude and their application at training. They are top of the league and at the moment are not even trying.

“Just think how good they would be if they put in the effort.”

The West Hull coaching staff named Aidan Gleeson as man-of-the-match.