Wigan St Pat's 30 - 54 Mayfield

Photo: Aidy Gleeson Snr

Sean Snape, powering through the defence

Mayfield again showed why they are up near the top of the Kingstone press NCL Premier Division with a complete demolition of Wigan St Pat's on Saturday.

Both teams started very strongly in perfect conditions playing at a scintillating pace.

Mayfield were unlucky after five minutes when a ball back on the inside was intercepted and the pacy Pat's winger went over in the corner to give his side the lead. .

Mayfield responded positively regathering the short kick off showing their intention to go for for broke.

Nothing came of it and Pat's were unlucky not to increase their lead after Mayfield knocked the ball loose as they crossed the line.

From the scrum Pat's threw the ball wide and won a penalty. Their decision to take the two points at this early stage probably showed their lack of confidence.

Again Mayfield responded strongly and a strong break from Nick Hargreaves was rewarded with some brilliant interplay between Matt Calland and Paul Brearley, with Brearley going over for a great score. Converted by Sam Butterworth to level the score.

Mayfield took the lead after the impressive Aidan Gleeson twisted out of a tackle to ground the ball under the sticks giving Butterworth an easy conversion.

This was a great game of rugby league flowing from end-to-end with both teams showing flashes of brilliance. There were also basic mistakes from both sides as Mayfield showed, losing the ball from the restart allowing Pat's to work down to their line from where they kicked through on the last tackle to score.

With half an hour gone Mayfield were guilty of not playing to the whistle after Pat's made a blatant two on one ball steal; the referee waved play on and the players chased the referee rather than the man with the ball, who went in for a converted try.

A poorly judged restart gave Pat's the chance once more to charge up field and add another score.

There was never really any feeling that Pat's were going to win this one but they never should have had an eight point lead at this stage and they knew that.

Mayfield ran in two tries in the last four minutes of the half first after Tod O'Brien forced a knock on from the scrum with some tenacious play allowing Brearley to put Dec Sheridan in for his first and then a try from half back from Sean Snape from half a yard out with three men on his back, converted by Butterworth.

Half time: Wigan St Pat's 20 - 22 Mayfield

Mayfield had shown what they were capable of in the first half with some fantastic rugby. It was an evenly matched half but Mayfield always looked to have a bit more to give whereas Pat's at times struggled to keep up with the pace.

Sam Butterworth and Paul Brearley were calling the shots for Mayfield and Todd O'Brien was providing them with quality ball from acting half. Dave Wood had a solid half as did Lewis Sheridan, coming into the line at every opportunity while maintaining a commanding presence at fullback.

The second began with a spell of broken play with neither side taking hold, until Sean Mulcahy popped up with a good solo effort after catching a pass behind his back and managing to retain control. Butterworth converted to extend Mayfield's lead. 

As is the case when playing this type of rugby you are always open to giving away chances to the opposition and Mayfield were guilty of this with Pat's capitalising on a Mayfield mistake to narrow the lead to two points.

Mayfield hit back strongly, this time through Liam Whalley who touched down despite almost having his head taken off by the enthusiastic defence.

Again as they threw the ball around Mayfield gave away an interception which lead to another Pat's try, and back to just a two point lead for Mayfield.

However, this was Pat's last score of the game, after a rollicking from coach Calland Mayfield tightened up their defence whilst still managing to entertain the crowd with a brilliant display for the last twenty minutes, with four further tries from Nick Hargreaves Seta Tala and a brace from Dec Sheridan, another hat-trick in this, his first season in open age rugby.

Mayfield powerhouse Aidan Gleeson was named as man-of-the-match by the coaches, with special mention going to Dave Wood, Sean Mulcahy and Paul Brearley.