Cole keeps cool to seal thriller
Fickle wind plays havoc with racing
MAYFIELD edged a humdinger of a match against Crosfields last weekend.
They started strongly again and were 4-0 up after a couple of minutes after a great Lewis Butterwoth try.
It looked for a while like they were going to repeat the previous week’s heroics, but that was not to be as they slipped back into old habits. Crosfields soon snatched the lead after some weak defence allowed them in for a converted score, 4-6.
Cole Connolly and Zac Hartley started to get a grip on the game and Si Moore, Liam Whalley and Liam Donnelly ran the ball well.
Mayfield were looking the part again and Whalley reclaimed the lead for his side with Connolly converted try, 10-6. Butterworth was unlucky not to get his second and it seemed a repeat performance was on the cards.
Not for long though as the Mayfield defence went to sleep for long periods allowing the Crosfields side back into a game they should have been out of.
The visitors steamed to a 10-24 lead and an upset looked on the cards. But Connolly and Hartley kept probing and it wasn’t long before they crafted a great opportunity, which Lee Registe gratefully accepted, Connolly added the two to make it 16-24.
Mayfield gave up possession from the restart and Crosfields came straight back at them, getting a try in the corner, 16-28 at half time. It looked like Mayfield had blown it at this stage.
The coaches, Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood read the riot act in the dressing room and it had an immediate effect as Connolly went over in the corner right from the start, he converted his own try, 22-28 and game back on.
Crosfield, however, had not read the script and more weak defence from Mayfield allowed them to extend their lead again 22-32. Both sides had a player sent to the bin after a bit of a scuffle and Crosfields upped the physicality of the game.
This seemed to suit the home side and they played their best rugby of the game with both Liams, Donnelly and Whaley getting tries in this period. and Mayfield were back in front, 34-32.
The last ten minutes of this game were not for the faint hearted as the lead changed hands five times 34-38, a quick thinking Ieuan Higgs try with Connolly conversion, 40-38. Needless penalty given away, 40-40. Poor Mayfield decision making allowing Crosfield DG, 40-41. Then as Mayfield were pressing the Crosfields line they were awarded a soft penalty themselves, Mr Cool himself Cole Connolly stepped up and sealed the game for his team, 42-41.
This was a real rollercoaster of a game and one couldn’t deny the excitement was on another scale.
The coaches though were disappointed with aspects of the performance Butterworth said: “Our completion rate, our defence and our penalties conceded were just not good enough. That said though our will to win and our never say die attitude was exceptional. We need to improve on all fronts though before we reach the play offs and I will be doing all I can to make that happen”
IT seemed like a summer’s day on Sunday, which also meant a wind that was very fickle – it could change direction by 180m degrees or just fade away. It was particularly frustrating for the Race Officer trying to set a course for good races.
As the wind was generally more apparent in the eastern part of the Lake, racing was kept there.
Half way through the first race the wind did change from easterly to westerly and Martin Brennan, in a Solo, took full advantage to win with Richard and Heather
Marsh in a RS400 second placed.
It was also clear that 13 years old Jasper Bramwell, in a Topper, is learning fast, and finished third.
For the second race, it was again Brennan in the lead with Jasper in runner-up slot and Richard Blackburn, Solo, third place.
Fewer boats went out for the third race and it was soon clear that Jasper was not outpaced as he kept up with the others and won with Brennan second and Kevin Parry (Solo) in third place.
On the previous Wednesday, there were 30 boats out including 12 Juniors in Toppers.
On that occasion, in a decent breeze, Jasper finished 10th but far above the other Juniors.
Our Juniors were away on Saturday, to Redesmere for a Junior Traveller event where Jasper, finishing 4th was the leading under14 sailor and there were successes throughout the team.