Mayfield 22 - 12 Wath Brow

Eric Johnson scoring

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Mayfield reached the semi-finals of the play offs on Saturday with a hard fought win over Wath Brow.

This was a game of two halves for Mayfield with a superb first half display and a penalty ridden second.

Mayfield were unlucky not to score in the first minute but a break by Paul Brearley came to nothing after he was caught by the Cumbrian centre.

The rugby on display was as good as anything seen this season and a credit to both clubs, both sets of players were at their best defensively and in attack.

Todd O'Brien opened the scoring for Mayfield as he dummied his way over the line from acting half. Sam Butterworth added the extras.

The game swung from end-to-end as the teams tried everything to cross the line but the defence, especially from Mayfield, was outstanding.

Brow were denied a score when Dave Wood pulled off another of his now trademark try saving tackles.

Mayfield again forced their way down field with Butterworth, Matt Calland, Lewis Sheridan and Callum Marriott all involved in the play.

A superb overhead pass from Joe Quanici to Calland saw Calland make 20 metres before finding Marriott in support and big Callum did what he does best, powering over to extend the lead.

Another try saver this time from Quanici saw Mayfield maintain their lead and further frustrated the visitors.

Mayfield were unlucky not to be further in front as first Aidan Gleeson had the ball dislodged as he attempted to ground it then Dec Sheridan was held up over the line.

From the resulting play they moved the ball wide and Butterworth kicked through for Brearley who read the play brilliantly as he strolled through to take the ball and the try. Butterworth converted.

Whatever the Wath Brow coach said at half time had an effect on his players as they came out all guns blazing; also Mayfield seemed to lose their cohesion and started giving away silly, needless penalties putting themselves under pressure.

Repeat penalties in the Mayfield twenty metre zone made it difficult for them to hold out the Brow forwards and it was almost inevitable that their big second rower would score to narrow the lead and put his side back in the hunt.

From the restart Butterworth put the ball short and high and Brearley out stretched the Brow players to palm the ball back, four plays later a perfectly timed Butterworth pass saw Eric Johnson glide through the gap. Butterworth again added the conversion.

Both sides were tiring but the Mayfield forwards kept going, Seta Tala revelling in his new position of prop. Mark Biggins and Qanuici kept on putting in the hard yards and the big hits.

While the backs made the most of the ball they were getting, Rob Kershaw was unlucky not to get through after a great ball from Wood put him away but the Brow defence rallied and snuffed out any chance the pacey winger had.

Things got a bit scrappy and Mayfield were placed on a team warning after again giving away repeat penalties, admittedly some were the result of overzealous whistle blowing by the official but others were needless and could have cost dearly.

With 12 minutes remaining Johnson was sin-binned for a swinging arm in the tackle and his side were now under real pressure. They lifted their game for a big final ten and held out the big Cumbrian pack until four minutes before time when Brow utilised the extra man moved the ball wide and crossed in the corner for another converted try.

That was the final score of an exciting, if at times frustrating game, for the supporters.

Overall Mayfield deserved the win based on the first half performance alone. They have worked hard on their defence with Matt Calland drilling in to them the need to concentrate and defend as a team, and that coaching has seen a marked improvement conceding only four tries in their last three games.

The semi-final is at Leigh Miners, Saturday 31 October at 2.30pm.

Mayfield are putting on a spectators coach leaving from the club at 12 o'clock at a price of £10.