Mayfield ready to cheer Matty on to Cup glory
THERE are no league games this week for the amateur sides as the Betfred Challenge cup final takes centre stage at Wembley.
With this in mind everyone at Mayfield sends their best wishes to one of their own, ex youth player Matty Lees.
The Saints star is pushing for selection after recovering from a serious ankle injury.
Matty missed out on the 2019 final after sustaining an abdominal injury so will be desperate to make this one.
Matty’s Mayfield coach Marvin Connolly said: “We all hope Matty manages to make the team. He has been desperately unlucky with injury in the past and we hope that he can beat it this time.
“This lad is one of my rugby league heroes, what he has achieved already is phenomenal.
“His talent and potential are massive. I coached Matty along with Dean Hartley and we are both immensely proud to have played some small part in his development.’
On the home front, things have picked up over the last couple of weeks at Mayfield, with players returning after injury to boost the squad.
Si Moore, Mark Biggins and Ieaun Higgs are all back in action along with rugby union converts Ollie Coldman and Jake Castree who are both proving great additions to the squad.
Perhaps the most pleasing return is that of Liam Whalley who showed his class as he demoralised the Saddleworth side last week with some ferocious defence, as well as scoring two tries.
One thing for sure is that this Mayfield side are now in a much better place than they were a month ago.
And while the amateur teams may not be in action, there’s still plenty of rugby to enjoy at the club this weekend as Mayfield host a Rugby League Masters game at the Mayfield Sports Centre today.
With a 1pm ko, a combined Rochdale side entertain Bury Broncos.
Masters is a more sedate game for people over the age of 35. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have the game is literally aimed at everyone.
It is a graduated game with players over the age of 60 wearing gold shorts which means they cannot be tackled.
There are some old names taking part in the game from different sides that were Rochdale based.
Glen Banks, Andy Duffy Tony Hilton, Neil Wood to name but a few. The list is endless and a real spectacle is promised on what promises to be a fantastic summers day.
Anyone interested in getting involved in the Masters game would be more than welcome and organiser Carl Abraham would love to get people from the past sides down at the club.
Teams like Kirkholt, Littleborough, Smallbridge, Spotland, Milnrow, Heywood.
Carl said: “There must be literally hundreds of ex players out there from these sides and we would love to get them back involved in the game.
“This is a fantastic way to improve your fitness and your health and well being. Above all it’s the social aspect of meeting up every week for a game of tig and pass that is good for all.
“The benefits aren’t just physical with surveys showing that there is a boost to mental health by taking part in sport.
“It doesn’t matter if you haven’t played before, we will make sure you are welcome and given all the help you need. We have players right through the age range from in their thirties right up to mid sixties, so age really is no barrier. So come on down to Mayfield on Saturday and have a look at what we are doing.”