Rugby league: Mayfield preview

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Mayfield will play York Acorn on Saturday 5 March

Rochdale Mayfield start their NCL Premier division season on Saturday (5 March) with the visit of York Acorn. 
The York side starts their first full season in this division since their promotion in 2019 so enter this game very much as unknowns.

Mayfield, under the direction of Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood are ready to go out and hand them a lesson.  After a patchy run in the last competition Butterworth's side has had a great pre season, making it to the third round of the Challenge Cup and playing some outstanding rugby along the way.

It will be a different Mayfield side that takes to the pitch today with Liam Donnelly having returned to Australia. Si Moore out with injury and Shaun Hurley and Rob Kershaw both suspended. 

On the positive side Butterworth has some new signings to unveil and a couple of returning players so on the whole its strong team that will be taking to the field for this first game. 

The coaches are priming the players to be better with the ball when on the attack and keep the same intensity in the tackle when defending. The Challenge Cup games have been the ideal preparation for the season as all the games in the competition are played at a high level of desire as the sides look to get through to the next round.

Carrying on that desire Butterworth wants his side to treat this game as a cup final, knowing how important it is to get that all important first victory under their belts. A good start to the season can be all important further down the line when it comes to the play off spots and that is what Mayfield have set their sights on before kick off. 

For the first time in a while Mayfield will be fielding a side packed with overseas players, with Australians Darcy Maroske and Daniel Dean, plus Canadian Kyle Marvin already settled in and raring to go while another Aussie Jarred Dash is hoping to arrive in time to be included in the team. 

Mayfield Chairman Neil Ramsden is excited by at the prospect of seeing these lads in action today and for the rest of the season. He said: "We have looked at these lads online and they are quality players. they have all contacted us individually with a view to coming over and we are more than happy to give them the chance.

"Sam and Woody have worked getting the side ready for the season and having these lads in just makes things easier for them. They are all looking forward to to doing what they came for, helping Mayfield take the division by storm and the play offs are the least we are looking for with this team."

Sponsors for the game are Health E Hut eating and New Bridge Chippy from Castleton.

The North West Men's League (NWML) side are also in action on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Halton Simms Cross. The NWML side are playing in division 3 this season under the guidance of Andy Reid and Craig White once more. This is a very young side who are made up mainly of players from the Under 18s. They have had one outing where they were very unlucky not to beat an experienced Higginshaw outfit. Reid and White are expecting big things from these lads and hopefully this weekend will be the start they are hoping for.

Fixtures 5 March 2022

• NCL Premier Division: Mayfield v York Acorn KO 2.30pm
• NWML Division 3: Halton Simms Cross v Mayfield
• Masters: Rochdale v Cadishead Rhinos KO 12.30pm