A team powers way to play-offs
LEAGUE leaders and Shield winners Mayfield A progressed to the final of the divisional play-offs with a resounding victory over Chorley Panthers on Saturday, scoring five scintilating tries and treating the large crowd to a great show of effort and no little skill.
Mayfield started the game strong and got the first chance with big defence forcing a Chorley error in their own half, but Jack Rush dropped the first drive then missed a tackle on the visitors’ quick-footed scrum half who raced to the corner only to be stopped short by good cover from Rob Kershaw and Nick Hargreaves.
Chorley’s big forwards controlled the centre field but tenacious tackling, particularly from Jordan Cella and Hargreaves, met them head on and smart halves play by Cole and Cameron Connolly found gaps on the fringes for long breaks and tries.
First, on 10 minutes, Rob Kershaw sped down the left wing and fed Cole Connolly inside for a try he goaled himself for 6-0.
Five minutes later they repeated the dose on the right as quick play and good passing found John Foy in the clear and he put Komai Namulatua in at the corner, too wide for the conversion.
At 10-0 Mayfield were cruising, but a couple of penalties in possession when on the break and two efforts ruled out for a forward pass and a drop over the line, kept the score down and Chorley dug in, led by their ex-professional scrum half and loose forward.
With the half time whistle looming Mayfield failed to complete exit sets and conceded penalties and Chorley scored a short range try converted for 10-6 at half time.
From the restart Mayfield finally finished a set and Nick Hargreaves burst through from 30 metres out for a try converted by Cole Connolly for 16-4.
Five minutes later Luke Hartley and Corey Newsham combined to get Mayfield to the line and Cole Connolly found Jack Rush with a beat flat pass and he crash over for a try converted by Cole Connolly for 22-4.
With 18 minutes left Mayfield had effectively sealed a place in the final but Chorley fought hard and brought the best out of the home side’s attack as slick hands found Matty Chrimes on the left and he broke through, passing inside to Cameron Connoly to dive over for 28-4.
Chorley scored a consolation try for 28-10 but Mayfield were through – and good value for it.
Man of the match was Nick Hargreaves but he was pushed all the way by Cole Connolly and Corey Newsham, while Jordan Cella put in an impressive shift in the middle, on attack and defence.
Corey Newsham. Rob Kershaw, Joe Scholfield, john Foy, Komai Namulatua. John Marsland, Cameron Connolly. Nick Hargreaves, Cole Connolly, Jordan Cella, Lewis Butterworth, Matty Chrimes, Jack Rush. Macaulay Connolly, Sean Hurley, Paul Reily