Mayfield 72 - 16 East Leeds

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Mark Biggins unstoppable

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The two week layoff certainly worked in Mayfield’s favour on Saturday as they completely demolished East Leeds at the Mayfield Sports Centre.

Leeds arrived with a tough reputation and indeed had already beaten Mayfield comprehensively at their ground earlier in the season.

You would never have guessed either of those facts by the end of the game as Mayfield totally outclassed them from start to finish.

It started badly for Leeds as they put the ball out on the full from the kick off and within two minutes Mayfield were in front after an audacious chip over the top straight from a scrum by Sam Butterworth, Dave Wood sprinted round the flat footed defence to go over for a Butterworth converted try.

Dec Sheridan was next on the scoresheet after a perfectly timed pass put him away down the wing and he turned the full back inside out as he opened his account from 40 metres. Butterworth converted.

Leeds attempted to stiffen their defence with some robust tackling but they didn't have an answer for the powerful running of Mark Biggins and Adian Gleeson.

Prompted on by Sam Butterworth and Paul Brearley the forwards had complete control of the game. The backs revelled in the amount of space created by the pack and the tries came thick and fast with Brearley crossing next after some great interplay with Gleeson.

A Matt Calland break was then supported by Eric Johnson who raced forward then showed a different side to his game as he drew the defender and then slipped the ball back on the inside to the supporting Calland who finished the move in style. Butterworth converted.

The Leeds side were in shock but to be honest nobody in the division would have got a look in against the way this Mayfield side were playing.

Calland added another two tries to complete his hattrick, including what must have been the try of the season after a passage of play involving seven of the Mayfield side and Dave Wood grabbed his second, all before half time.

The crowd were loving it. Mayfield were playing the rugby everybody knows they are capable of and a ball retention of 70% in the first half showed that.

It wasn't all about the try scorers, Todd O'Brien was clinical in his half back play and typically aggressive in his defence not allowing the opposition the chance to gain any momentum while Mark Biggins and Callum Marriott were just superb, driving the ball in time after time and repelling any attempted attack from the Yorkshire outfit.

The second half could have been a damp squib but the Leeds side tried their best to get something from the game.

Alas their best wasn't good enough. They held out for eleven minutes before Nick Hargreaves showed great strength and determination as well some blistering pace as he refused to be put down, crossing out wide.

Leeds managed three tries in the second showing if nothing else on the day they had a strong spirit in the side, although that's not enough at this level.

Lewis Sheridan added two more to keep his place as top try scorer, Dave wood completed his hat trick and Paul Brearley added his second but without doubt the biggest cheer of the day was for Mark Biggins who charged down a kick on the half way line gathered the ball then outstripped the whole East Leeds side as they tried to run him down, truly inspiring.

Gleeson added three second half conversions.

The final score of 72 - 16 was a true reflection of Mayfield’s complete domination and showed the true class of Matt Calland's side.