Rugby League: Mayfield preview

Rochdale Mayfield

Of the four games Mayfield have left to play in the Kingstone Press NCL Premier Division, the home game this Saturday (17 August) against second placed West Hull will likely be the most difficult.

Mayfield went down 23 - 16 in the reverse fixture early in the season; a game they felt they could have won. Since then, the team have made at least nine changes to the side that takes to the field this weekend.

The Thatto Heath game apart, Mayfield have shown steady improvement, culminating in a great victory over Underbank last week. That Underbank side thrashed West Hull 30 - 4 just three weeks ago, so there are signs there for Mayfield to take notice of.

If Mayfield go into this game with the same frame of mind and the same attitude and willingness to play to the strategy set out by the coaches, they can once again upset the apple cart and take the points.

Luke Fowden has been leading the way on the field with some blockbusting performances and now he has the benefit of playing alongside Liam Whalley again. Whalley is consistency itself, rock solid in almost every aspect of his game.

Players like these two lift the mood of the others and with the vastly experienced Rob Kershaw in the pack, as well the other forwards, Mayfield will want to be showing they too can give their all to the cause.

Cole Connolly will replace Dec Sheridan on Saturday and Wayne English is injured. Mayfield have a ready-made replacement for English in Lewis Butterworth. Although not having the experience of English - Wayne has injuries that are older than Lewis - he too is solid in his defence with a good reading of the game.

Samanyanga and McConnachie looked positive on the wings and the half back pairing of Higgs and Hartley showed some real touches of class. So, if Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood can re instil the same mind set as last week it could be game on at the Mayfield Sports Centre.

Fixture 17 August 2019

NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v West Hull KO 2.30pm