Patched up side off to perfect start

AFTER a stellar season last year Mayfield NWML opened their season in the first division with a hard fought victory against last years play off finalists Widnes Tigers.

They didn’t have high hopes as a number of players were lost to the first team and work commitments, meaning that they only had two subs and had to field four u18s in the starting 13.

Mayfield went behind in the first minute and two mistakes saw Tigers run the length of the field and score on Mayfield’s right hand side, the kick hitting the post. This was a wake up call for the field.

The debutants wasted no time introducing themselves with Jackson Kelly making some bone crunching tackles, Sal Mahmood taking the ball forward at every opportunity and strong carries from Wayne Bannister.

It was end to end stuff until scrum half Lewis Butterworth danced his way through the defence to put the ball over the line, Kelly kicking the two.

Shaun Hurley and Travis Holden were outstanding in both attack and defence, with the returning Lee Atkinson getting them around the field from hooker.

Atkinson scored the second just before half time, again Kelly kicking the two.

The second half saw tigers get their second wind and scrappy defending saw them get back into the game with a try scored off a neat chip, the kick was missed again, 12-8 to Mayfield.

The game hung in the balance, both teams failing to capitalise on some fine chances. But with less than a minute to go Hurley cemented his place as MOM as he carried four Widnes players over the line. Kelly sealed the win and a great personal performance by adding the two.