Mayfield cruise to play-off final
MAYFIELD A team crushed Widnes Tigers to secure their place in the NWML Division 1 play off final.
Just three weeks previous, Mayfield suffered their biggest defeat of the season against Tigers, and, understandably, tensions were high with so much at stake.
The home side started the game with some massive defensive sets, led by Shaun Hurley and Mark Biggins, who both put some massive shots on.
The tenacious defence knocked the wind out of their rivals and James McDaid capitalised on this as he crossed out on the right for the first try of the day.
Zac Hartley converted, which he then went on to do for the next 12 tries!
Macauley Donnelly was next over the whitewash as he hit a great line, and beat three defenders to cross under the sticks.
Next up was Cole Connolly who scored on the blind side off a scrum play.
Captain Rob Kershaw showed great understanding as he read the play and received an off load from Connelly to score under the posts.
Nick Hargreaves and Hartley added one apiece, Hartley’s an absolute classic as he intercepted on his own 10 yard line and sprinted the length of the field.
Mayfield went into the break 36-0 up, and running at 75 per cent completion, a stat that the NCL side would have been made up with.
The second half started in the same vein as Mayfield’s ferocious defence left the visitors shell shocked, with Donnelly and Corchoran leading the way in attack, whilst Biggins and Muir put in some massive hits.
Kershaw bagged his second with a smart scoot from dummy half.
Widnes tried to turn the game in their favour with some sustained pressure as they managed to get four sets in a row on the Mayfield line, but the home side defended like lions, Corey Newsham making the tackle of the year, which he then backed up with the try of the season, as he sprinted the full length of the field leaving defenders in his wake.
Other scorers on the day were Connolly, Corchoran, Hartley again, and Tom Fitzgerald. The final score being 76-0.
Mayfield now play Walney Central in the final at Latchford this Saturday.