Rugby League: Waterhead 18 - 24 Mayfield

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Max Wood got his name on the scoresheet for Mayfield

Mayfield notched up another win on Saturday 24 July, after a scrappy game at Waterhead.

Mayfield showed some touches of real class but some loose passes and an 18 - 2 penalty count kept the home side in the game right up until the final whistle.

The first two minutes saw Mayfield under the cosh as they lost possession from the kick off and then gave away two senseless penalties. Waterhead capitalised on this and were on the scoreboard within five minutes with a converted try. 6 - 0.

Nick Hargreaves continued his strong run of form as he went at the defence like a train, smashing through tackles. A brilliant early break saw him find Lewis Butterworth with a perfect pass and from the next play, Liam Donnelly strolled over the line. Aidan Gleeson levelled the scores with the conversion 6 - 6.

It was all Mayfield then for the rest of the first half as they scored some great tries. A Rob Kershaw break gave Ieaun Higgs an opportunity which he gladly accepted and Mayfield took the lead as Gleeson again slotted over the kick, 6 - 12.

Waterhead looked like they would buckle at this stage but they came back and levelled the scores, against the run of play. Max Wood, aided by Jackson Kelly, was knocking the fight out of them as he took a leaf from Hargreaves' book and ran straight and hard and defended with the same enthusiasm. Holes were appearing in the line and Mayfield, through Gleeson and Hartley began exploiting them. Two more tries before half gave them a 12 - 20 lead thanks to Kershaw and Butterworth on his first game back after finishing university.

Waterhead rallied in the second half and the game was to and fro thanks to unforced errors from both sides. Wood extended his side's lead with a powerfully taken try and at 12 - 24 Mayfield should have gone on to walk this game, but repeat penalties and poor decision making allowed the home side back in it and only dogged defence kept them at bay.

Wood, Schofield and Whalley were all instrumental in keeping them out. A fight broke out with ten minutes to go after Kershaw received an elbow to the throat and this saw him yellow carded and the Waterhead player sent off.

Mayfield then took their foot off the gas and allowed the opposition chances to get back in it. They took one of these right on the final whistle and made the scoreline a lot more respectable at 18 - 24. In reality Waterhead should have been dead and buried by this point but were allowed to stay in the game by a benevolent Mayfield side. However, a wins' a win, as they say, and Sam Butterworth's side will take this as they continue to climb the league and look good for a play off place come the end of the season.