Mayfield save best for play-off finale
MAYFIELD NWML side definitely saved their best for last with this stunning victory over Widnes Tigers in the Division 2 play off final on Saturday.
A shaky start from Mayfield saw the experienced widnes side capitalise on every mistake, making easy yards and finding gaps in the usually solid defence.
Corey Newsham, Joe Schofield, Cameron Connolly and James McDade worked really hard and but for their sometimes ferocious defence, Widnes would have been on the score sheet earlier.
As it was it was ten minutes before they managed it after good work from the half backs saw the big centre go over in the corner, 0-4.
Mayfield upped their game but were still just off the game despite constant urging from captain Rob Kershaw. Cole Connolly began to find space for his runners and Matty Chrimes, Mark Biggins and Jordan Cella revelled in it, constantly probing the line only to be stopped by some equally dogged defence from Widnes.
A great break from the hooker put his side in the Mayfield danger zone and only a brilliant chase from Chrimes prevented the try but a speculative pass on the last tackle from the stand off allowed the winger to increase their lead with a converted try, 0-10.
At this point, weaker teams may have folded under the pressure but not this side, with a belief in themselves that belied the average age of the team they fought back and began producing the kind of rugby that coach, Marvin Connolly knows they are capable of.
Strong runs from Chrimes and Schofield gave their side good field position and when Cole Connolly slipped a beautifully timed pass to the rampaging McDade the writing was on the wall as he raced in for his sides first score, Cole Connolly converted to make it 6-10.
Mayfield were unlucky not to score again before half time with probing runs from Chrimes, James Ainley and Paul Riley bringing them close.
The second half saw mayfield really get their act together playing, at times, scintilating rugby which would not have looked out of place in the more senior finals which took place later in the day.
McDade and Newsham were again instrumental in finding the ground to allow the industrious James Ainley to scoot over a typical hookers try, Cole Connolly converted to give Mayfield the lead for the first time – lead they never relinquished – at 12-10.
From then on it was all Mayfield with forwards Biggins, Cella, Rush, and Donnelly in particular totally dominating their opposite numbers.
This allowed the backs the time and space to move the ball around and wear out the Widnes defence. Added to that any time Widnes staged an attack they were smashed in the tackle by Newsham, Kershaw, Hartley and McDade.
Newsham grabbed himself a well deserved try after he cut the defence to ribbons with a series of brilliant side steps, Connolly converted for 18-10.
Widnes tried to stage a comeback but Mayfield’s young lions were just to good and too strong and when Jordan Parr broke down the left and fed a well timed pass to Chrimes he raced away from sixty metres for a great score, Connolly converted for 24-10.
Again Widnes tried to lift their game and this time they had some success as Mayfield just had a momentary lapse giving away an unnecessary penalty which gave Widnes the chance they had been waiting for and the hooker darted over on the third play to narrow the gap, 24-16.
Mayfield responded well though and Cole and Cameron Connolly marshalled the troops and with Kershaw urging his boys on Paul Riley was unlucky not to score as he grounded the ball just short.
Minutes later Cella went one better as he crashed through the line to seal the game with Connolly adding the two points the final score was 30- 16 and Mayfield were crowned as second division champions.
Corey Newsham, Jordan Parr, Joe Schofield, Matty Chrimes, Komai Nualamatua, Cameron Connolly, Cole Connolly, Mark Biggins, James Ainley, Jordan Cella, Rob Kershaw, James McDade, Jack Rush, John Foy, Macauley Donnelly, Luke Hartley, Paul Riley.