Rugby League: Mayfield 25 - 4 Egremont

Mayfield picked up a very valuable two points on Saturday with an honest hard-fought win at home to Egremont.

With several players dropping out for various reasons during the week Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood had to reshuffle their side but the lads that played put in a great performance against top four side Egremont. Conditions belied the fact that this was summer rugby, with the rain falling for the duration of the game.

Mayfield adapted well from the start and a great early break from Lewis Butterworth could have ended in points but for resolute defence from the Egremont side.

Both teams gave away early penalties before Mayfield scooped up a loose ball and James McDaid scooted in to open the scoring for Mayfield, Hartley converted, 6 - 0.

Egremont put the restart out on the full and Zac Hartley put the resulting penalty deep into their twenty, within minutes Dec Sheridan had put Luke Fowden over under the sticks, Hartley knocked the conversion over for 12 - 0.

Like last week’s game this looked like two of the top teams competing rather than a top v bottom battle and both sides deserved credit for the way they were playing.

Strong running from the visiting forwards was met with equally strong defence from the Mayfield line, Fowden, Sean Mulcahy and James Tilley were at the front leading the tackling but a lucky bounce on the last tackle saw Egremont regain possession and wrong foot the defence, 12 - 4.

The next fifteen minutes effectively decided the game as Egremont were unlucky not to score in the corner after a great kick through from their no 8. Mayfield dug deep and pressured the Egremont line for long periods and were themselves unlucky as Jack McConachie forced a goal line drop out from a Hartley kick.

It took until two minutes before half time for Mayfield to add to their tally, Sheridan kicked through from acting half as they pushed on the line and Cole Connolly beat the defence to the ball to touch down, Hartley added the two, 18 - 4.

Before the ref could blow for half time Hartley had added to his tally with a well taken drop goal making the score at the break 19 - 4.

James Connaughton, Rob Kershaw, James McDaid and James Tilley were outstanding in the first half and that's where the platform for this victory was laid. 

The second half started in the driving rain and conditions worsened, making it hard for both teams to control the ball and retaining possession was near impossible with ten turn overs in the first seven minutes alone. Defences came to the fore for both teams as they tried to gain the advantage.

A brilliant 40/20 kick from Hartley gave Mayfield a great attacking position but a forward pass on the second put paid to that.

Egremont had a sustained spell in the Mayfield twenty but a strong and well organised defence snuffed out each threat as it arose with Wayne English orchestrating at the back.

With 20 minutes on the clock and the rain absolutely torrenting down Mayfield produced a brilliant set and a perfectly timed pass from Zac Hartley put McDaid through for his second, Hartley added the two, 25 - 4. 

That rounded off the scoring but the two teams continued to plug away with Mayfield always the better side.

The result never really looked in doubt right through this game and Mayfield thoroughly deserved the two points they picked up. There were some very good performances, Tilley once again was massive in defence, Connaughton and Andy Taylor put in good shifts in the pack while Hartley, McConnachie and the lively Harry McDonald had good second halves. The two stand out players though were McDaid and Fowden with the sponsors Paul Ormerod and Dave Marcroft opting to give the MOM to Luke Fowden.