Wigan St Patricks 34 – 49 Rochdale Mayfield

Mayfield picked up two valuable league points with a sterling victory in a try-fest at Wigan St Patrick's, scoring eight tries and seven goals to keep fourth place in the league.

Mayfield started brightly with livewire Lewis Sheridan making two breaks in the first set and only a rough call from the linesman, judging Rhys Carruth in touch on the left, denying him a try.

St Pats hit back and showing a desire to throw the ball around, broke from far out and only a great tackle by Callum Marriott and last ditch efforts from Lewis Sheridan and Lee Registe saved a try.

Mayfield made the most of the good fortune, getting three sets in possession when first a kick then a wide pass were knocked down by St Pats. The strong props Aidan Gleeson and James Shaw drove hard at the line, and Shaw found Zac Hartley with an offload and Hartley dived over for a try on the right, which he converted himself.

Mayfield almost extended their lead but Lewis Sheridan couldn’t gather a neat Aidan Gleeson midfield chip.

Mayfield failed to control the ball when clearing their line, and from the scrum St Pats passed wide to the left to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

Tough defending saw Mayfield recover the ball in the next set, and Zac Baker dummied through from 10 metres out to score under the posts. Zac Hartley converted.

Mayfield dropped the kick off, then conceded two penalties and St Pats drove to the line.

Mayfield’s first contact in the tackle was poor, and the St Pats hooker simply fell over from acting half back for a try.

Mayfield continued to be too weak in the collision and St Pats made 70 metres from the kick off and put up a last tackle bomb. Rhys Carruth failed to take it and the St Pats winger juggled the last ball but scored in the corner. 

A Lewis Sheridan charge drew a penalty and Mayfield threw the ball wide. Liam Whalley burst the line and offloaded to Lee Registe who returned the ball to Whalley for him to smash through on the right. Zac Hartley missed the conversion.

The restart sailed out on the full and strong drives by Sean Watkins and Nick Hargreaves forced quick play the balls. Declan Sheridan took advantage and jumped out from acting half back and handed on to the charging James Shaw, who went in untouched. Aidan Gleeson converted.

Penalties were then exchanged for high tackles, and Zac Hartley converted Mayfield's for a 16-24 half time lead that Mayfield just about deserved.

Mayfield exploded into life on the restart, Rhys Carruth took the kick off and sprinted through the chasers, he drew the cover and passed inside to the supporting Callum Marriott but a desperate last ditch tackle stopped him.

Two quick play the balls later, Declan Sheridan scooted to the blindside and passed to Matty Ashton who strolled over in the right corner. Zak Hartley kicked a magnificent touchline conversion.

Mayfield conceded two questionable penalties and poor line defence saw St Pats score through the ruck on the right.

The sides traded sets before Mayfield again conceded two penalties but strong defence defused the danger and Declan Sheridan drew a penalty back for Mayfield on the back of a Jack Rush quick play the ball.

Aidan Gleeson charged at the defensive line and when he was stopped short, offloaded to Lewis Sheridan who passed wide to Matty Ashton. Ashton drew the cover to put Rhys Carruth in at the corner. Zak Hartley converted.

Matty Ashton paid the price, picking up a rib injury from late hit after the try scoring pass had gone.

A great Mayfield set finished back in the St Pats right corner.

On Mayfields next visit to the St Pats half, Aidan Gleeson dropped a goal.

Lewis Sheridan chipped over on the last and regathered in the St Pats in-goal for a try. Converted by Zak Hartley.

Mayfield forced a drop out and strong forward charges by James Shaw, Lee Registe and Jack Rush created space for the halves to find Callum Marriott on the right, and he ran a great line to reach over. Zak Hartley missed the conversion.

St Pats pulled back two tries, one in overtime, but it was little more than consolation, as Mayfield finished with a Zac Hartley penalty goal and took the league points.

Mayfield now need to win at home against Leigh Miners next week to be sure of a home play-off the week after.

Mayfield Team; Lewis Sheridan. Lee Registe, Matt Gartland, Matty Ashton, Rhys Carruth. Zak Baker, Zac Hartley. James Shaw, Callum Ogden, Aidan Gleeson, Sean Watkins, Liam Whalley, Callum Marriott, Nick Hargreaves, Declan Sheridan, Jack Rush, Munya Samanyanga.