Rugby league: Mayfield 36 - 10 York Acorn

Lewis Butterworth on his way to scoring for Mayfield

What a game to start the season! The match at Mayfield on Saturday 5 March was a cracker although Mayfield starting the game by putting themselves under enormous pressure, allowing the York side five repeat sets in their twenty in the first eight minutes. The Mayfield defence though was tremendous, refusing to allow the marauding York forwards through their line.

Cole Connolly set his stall out early on smashing everything that came his way. His example was followed by the forwards Darcy Maroske, Shaun Hurley and Travis Holden who worked overtime in this department. Dec Sheridan and Connolly began to take a grip of the game and once Mayfield had their hold they never let it go. On nine minutes, Canadian Kyle Marvin showed he is going to fit in well at Mayfield as he broke down his wing and put James McDaid through into space for the first score, converted by Zac Hartley, 6 - 0.

The forwards continued their assault on the York attack and the side played some excellent rugby. Lewis Butterworth was dispatched for ten minutes by the ref for an infringement and York may have thought they could take advantage but Mayfield and especially Nick Hargreaves had other ideas as time again he rocked the attack back.

Coach Sam Butterworth introduced new signing Jarred Dash to the fray and Dash, who only landed at Manchester three hours earlier, hit the ground running with some great defence and equally impressive attack and when the rampaging Hargreaves broke the line and made 40m up field Connolly looked to use the ball in the York twenty, up popped Dash to crash over under the sticks, Hartley converted to double the lead, 12 - 0.

York showed their class, refusing to give up and after a good spell and a well crafted kick to the corner saw their winger take the ball to cut the deficit in the corner, 12 - 4.

This was now a classic game of rugby league being played by two good sides and the crowd were loving it. The Mayfield section were loving it even more when Marvin again showed his class, this time crossing the line himself, 16 - 2 at half time.

The second half saw Mayfield up the pressure and the skill level at the same time. The two youngsters in the side Ben Needham and Matty Brown really impressed with almost faultless contributions. Brown was especially impressive, breaking the first tackle almost every time he took the ball in. Strong performances from the forwards always lift a team and give the backs the confidence to play an open game and this was one of those occasions. The forwards were massive and the backs moved the ball around brilliantly. Lewis was the beneficiary of this as he found himself on the end of one of these moves and squeezed over in the corner, Hartley brilliantly converted from the touchline, 22 - 4. 

Mayfield took their foot off the gas for a while now and York again showed their pedigree as they responded with a converted score, 22 - 10. Sheridan continued his good form with a great kick through which Zac Hartley managed to touch down, again converted by Hartley 28 - 10. Connolly then added a penalty for 30 - 10.

Matty Brown then gained the position from where Travis Holden grabbed a well earned try converted by Hartley to round off the scoring, 36 - 10.

This was a resounding victory for Mayfield and puts a marker down for the up coming campaign. Coaches Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood were happy with the teams performance and believe there is better to come once the new recruits have settled in. This was an all round team performance, Ieaun Higgs and Lewis Butterworth showed their class throughout as did Connolly and Hargreaves but the sponsors split decision for MOM went to Reece Hamlett, who was harshly dismissed near the end for a harmless push, and Kyle 'The Canadian' Marvin.