Survival scrappers Skirlaugh tear up script at Mayfield

THIS was definitely a case of Mayfield losing the game rather than Skirlaugh winning it.

The home side played some good stuff, especially in the first half and Skirlaugh were only kept in the game by some spirited defence.

Mayfield started well and should have took the lead after just a couple of minutes but Matty Ashton just failed to control the ball on the last.

To their credit Skirlaugh looked sharp and were not looking like a team in the drop zone. Mayfield were again unlucky after the defence fumbled a Chris Hough kick and Matty Chrimes pounced on the loose ball, making thirty yards up field but again it came to nothing.

Wwith less than ten minutes on the clock Mayfield registered their first score after good work from the forwards, Jack Francis in particular did well. Cameron Connolly took advantage of some slack defence and went over from twenty yards for a good individual try, 4-0.

Skirlaugh were back in it soon after as Jack Francis was penalised for a late tackle then the ref saw fit to award another for ball stealing and Mayfield were under pressure on their own line. Two quick play the balls and and the powerful second rower crashed over by the sticks for a converted score, 4-6.

From the restart Skirlaugh came straight back at Mayfield looking to increase the lead, with the stand off putting up a very dangerous bomb, but James McDade showed a touch of class as he rose above the attack under a lot pressure and made a great catch.

This spurred on his team mates who upped the pace, looking like a winning team. They powered up field with good play from Nick Hargreaves and Jimmy Connaughton before Dec Sheridan produced a piece of magic to weave his way over for an Aidan Gleeson converted try to regain the lead, 10-6.

Mayfield were in control for the next fifteen minutes with Hough orchestrating things with some strategic kicking and Matty Ashton and Nick Hargreaves doing their best to make ground.

It was only the strong defence from Skirlaugh that held the score as it was and finally caused Mayfield to lose possession. The Hull side now looked sharp again and found good position from where their hooker went over from acting half for a soft try, the conversion again giving his side the lead, 10-12.

Matty Ashton again did well as he managed to reclaim the ball from the restart and moments later a penalty to Mayfield allowed Sheridan to again squirm through the defence and touch down. Gleeson again converted to give the home side a 16-12 half time lead.

Both the crowd and the team seemed to think it was just a matter of time before the visitors crumpled and Mayfield began running in the tries.

Unfortunately some one had forgotten to give the Skirlaugh side a copy of the script.

Mayfield started the second half well enough but it wasn’t long before they lost their structure and seemed to abandon the game plan. Skirlaugh again took advantage of Mayfield’s disarray and retook the lead with a converted try, 16-18.

Skirlaugh now had their heads up and looked dangerous in possession while Mayfield just failed to respond. That said they still felt as a team that they had enough to win the game, and if they had stuck to Matt Calland’s game plan there is no doubt they would have done.

The next try was typical of the way the game was going, as Zac Baker picked up a loose pass off his ankles the Skirlaugh team screamed knock on, the ref blew the whistle before Baker touched down over the line.

The ref then conferred with his touch judge and awarded the try much to the consternation of the Skirlaugh coach who was dismissed for his protestations, 20-18.

Callum Marriott was coming into the game more now along with Sean Watkin and Hargreaves but their hard work was undone when another penalty for stealing the ball gave Skirlaugh the chance to draw level, which they gratefully accepted, 20-20. From the restart they signalled their intention as they forced their way down field and popped over a drop goal for a 20-21 lead.

An infringement from the restart gave Mayfield a shot at goal from the half way which Hough put just wide but shortly after Gleeson took two points from a penalty under the sticks 22-21.

With just a few minutes left on the clock but there were still points in this game and everyone knew it.

Unfortunately for Mayfield they went to the visitors as a cheap penalty for stealing gave them the lead then a poorly executed kick gave them possession and on the first play the loose forward scooted from acting half to seal the game and give his side a valuable two points in their fight against relegation.

Mayfield on the other hand were left looking shell shocked with nothing to show for a lot of effort.

This was a poor overall team performance from a team that is looking do well in the upcoming play offs. If they are to have any measure of success they must do better.

Coaches Matt Calland and Sam Butterworth will be disappointed with the result, no doubt about that but will reflect on the fact that there were eight regular players missing and they still performed at a level were they could have won the game.

This week at training they will spend time looking at the video of the game and working on the game plan and structure element that failed them in this game.

Mayfield NWML have an important game on Friday night when they visit the Manchester Regional arena to play Manchester Rangers. This is a massive game in Dave Harmer and Marvin Connolly’s quest to win the league title.

With the top three teams all on 22 points Mayfield need to try and win their remaining games. Harmer and Connolly will take a strong squad to Manchester and as always are confident in their ability to take the points. There is a coach going to the game for departure details ring the club.