Rugby league: Simms Cross 6 - 12 Mayfield

The restructured Mayfield North West Men's League (NWML) side took on Halton Simms Cross last week in the first league game of the season. Mayfield kicked off and started with a fine defensive set keeping Simms Cross pinned deep in their own half with some big tackling from Mark biggins Taylor Hartley and Ellis Tracy.

Simms Cross had no option but to kick the ball on the fourth tackle which was taken easily by Christian Mac who duly carried the ball out making plenty of yards up field.

Mayfield set their stall out right from their first attacking set by trying to get the ball out wide with quick hands from the young half back duo of Isaac Reid and Jack Green finding the centres Luke Hartley and Cam Hodgson, unluckily though they where kept at bay by some scrambling defence from Simms.

The break through came just after the 15 minute mark after some tough goal line defending from Mayfield forced an error from Simms Cross, the ball was gathered by Hodgson, the referee waved play on and Hodgson was away down the left touch line, being chased well by the Simms Cross fullback, backing up on the inside was Isaac Reid.

Under pressure from the Simms Cross fullback, Hodgson passes inside to Reid who got within 5 yards of the line, draws the last remaining Simms Cross defender to put Hodgson over the line for Mayfield's first try of the game unfortunately it wasn't converted.

After going 4-0 up Mayfield started to struggle a little due to the fact that a couple of the lads had to go off injured leaving Mayfield with a bare 13. The lads dug deep to go in at half time still in the lead.

After an inspirational team talk from captain Mark Biggins, the second half started and athe lads knew what they had to do, they were going to have to follow Biggins' lead who took it to the Simms Cross forwards right from the kick off with his big carries with the ball and his no nonsense defending.

The other Mayfield forwards were all happy to follow with Brad Rowley, Ellis Tracy and Ben Wilky stepping up, never taking a backward step and having great go forward. This put Simms Cross under a lot of pressure, which resulted not long after the break, in Mayfield getting their second try of the game which came from some great team shape.

Jack Green gets the lads set on the open side ready, but in a smart play from Isaac Reid he hit the blind side with a quick ball from dummy half which created a 2 v 1 and put in winger Sean Mac for another try. Unfortunately the try is not converted yet again.

At this point it looks like Mayfield are going to cruise to victory but that is not to be the case with Simms Cross putting up a bit of fight back as the 13 men of Mayfield begin to tire.

Simms Cross are now on the front foot and start to march upfield. Mayfield hold strong and keep the opposition at bay with a couple of big tackles one from Billy p and other coming from Isaac Reid who wipes out their back rower, from this Simms Cross tempers flair and there is an altercation, resulting in Mark Biggins being shown a yellow card.

Now with only 12 players, Mayfield couldn't hold out any longer with Simms Cross getting over the line for a try which was converted to make the score 6-8.

Simms Cross' tails are up and the game now is in the balance. A cracking kick off from Jack Green puts Simms Cross deep in their 20 yard zone. What followed was superb, the Mayfield young pack with an average age of 17 stepped it up and stuck right into Simms Cross forcing an error. Mayfield get the ball back and make Simms Cross pay with a nice little show and go from Jack Green resulting in him crossing the line and putting Mayfield two tries up. Unfortunately the conversion was missed which left Simms Cross with a glimmer of hope, with minutes left and four back to back sets Simms Cross just couldn't get over the line as Mayfield's defence was just too strong

The final score was Simms Cross 6, Mayfield 12. Jack Green was named man of the match.