Rugby League: Pilkington Recs 14 - 40 Rochdale Mayfield

Two try Wayne English

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Mayfield travelled to St Helens side Pilkington Recs and extended their five-match winning run, cementing their place in the top four of the country’s top amateur league.

The two sides traded quality first sets – showing an intention to spread the ball wide on a perfect day for rugby league.

A last tackle dropped ball by Zak Hartley that presented Pilkington with the first chance, and they took it as their winger skirted the Mayfield defence to score in the corner.

Mayfield recovered the restart and Zak Hartley made up for his earlier error, putting Cole Connolly through a gap 10 metres out; he was only stopped by a high tackle from the full back. From the resultant penalty Luke Fowden showed great strength to force his way over the line but the ball popped out of his grasp and the ‘try’ was ruled out.

Not to be deterred, Mayfield stuck to the plan, with prop forwards Jack Francis and Gaz Ellison getting on the front foot.

Matty Ashton ran on the last tackle and sliced through the line. Lewis Sheridan was backing up and took the pass to score a try he converted himself.

Matty Ashton took a neat inside pass from Zac Baker and this time finished the job himself, rounding the full back to score. Lewis Sheridan again converted.

Good kick chase pressure by Sean Watkins forced a knock on by Pilkington on their own 30 metre line, but despite Mayfield earning a penalty for holding down, a forward pass meant the chance to extend the lead was lost.

The next attack saw Zac Baker step inside the cover to score a try in the corner – superbly converted by Lewis Sheridan off the touchline.

With half time looming Mayfield secured the game early with quick short passes in a centre field switch play that drew an offside penalty 40 metres out. Two plays later Wayne English went in from 20 metres from an inside pop-up pass. Lewis Sheridan again goaled.

Pilkington showed their ability to play the very wide pitch as they managed to score wide, again on the left.

With the half nearly up, and having as good a game as he has had all season, Lewis Sheridan cut through the defence with a show and go dummy, but he slipped and fell awkwardly into the last defender, hitting his knees with such force that it dislocated the Mayfield star's shoulder – an injury probably ruling him out for the season.

The loss of Lewis Sheridan disrupted Mayfield team and despite the efforts of Paul Brearley and man-of-the-match Cole Connolly in the halves, errors and poor decision saw play confined to the middle of the field, and scoreless, for the next 30 minutes. The only bright spots being an interception by Zak Hartley on his own 30 that saw him race to the line, only to be stopped five metres short, and Zac Baker was held up over the line on the next play.

Pilkington took advantage of a rare Wayne English dropped bomb that gifted them a try.

This got the Pilkington tails up and Mayfield had to defend well to withstand a number of repeat sets on their line. They did and when given their chance in the opposition half Mayfield took advantage as Jimmy Connaughton smashed into the defence to get one metre from their line. A quick play the ball saw Zak Hartley dummy left and right to go in untouched. He converted.

The lead was further extended as the strong left-hand side of Liam Whalley and Sean Watkins defended well to get the ball and took the team forward with a neat interchange of passing. Wayne English benefitted from wide passing to skip round the opposition centre and tip the ball to the supporting James McDaid to score in the corner.

The reintroduction of Cole Connolly picked up Mayfield again and they finished with a flourish as his quick acting half back service gave Zac Baker time to chip over the defence 30 metres out for the supporting Wayne English to gather and score his second try. Converted by Zac Baker.

Mayfield were good value for the 40 points scored and the win, and roll on to top of the league Siddal next Saturday 19 August (2.30pm kick off).

Mayfield Team: Lewis Sheridan. Wayne English, Lewis Butterworth, Liam Whalley, James McDaid. Matty Ashton, Zak Hartley. Luke Fowden, Cole Connolly, Jimmy Connaughton, Sean Watkins, Callum Marriott, Zac Baker. Paul Brearley, Jack Francis, Nick Hargreaves, Gaz Ellison.