Mayfield all set for Wath Brow opener
ROCHDALE Mayfield’s 2024 season starts today. Mayfield make the arduous journey up the M6 to Whitehaven for their first game in the National Conference League Premier Division, hardly the ideal opener but at least it gets it out of the way.
Sam Butterworth and Steve Wood are at the helm once more and are hoping to improve on last year’s third-placed finish.
Last season was outstanding with some superb performances, most notably Cornwall away and the Wath Brow away fixture where Mayfield won for the first time.
The pre-season hasn’t gone exactly to plan for Mayfield as they went down in the Betfred Challenge Cup at London side Wests Warriors in their first game, after being unable to arrange a warm up fixture.
Their next run out was a comfortable victory against Waterhead in the Oldham Standard Cup.
Today is different though – today is the NCL Premier division where every game is like a cup final and even at this stage of the season every game counts.
Mayfield make the journey with five first team players missing for one reason or another.
There are no easy games at Wath Brow and a depleted side will make it even tougher this afternoon.
Make no mistake though, Mayfield will be going all out for the win.
Wath Brow have started very well with two good away wins in the Challenge Cup before going down in a closely fought contest at highly fancied, newly-promoted York Acorn.
This will be a big game for Mayfield and they are keen to get their new signings on the field in the league.
Zac Baker and Sean Slater have enjoyed a couple of run outs with their new team mates while Lewis Sheridan has yet to pull his boots on after knee surgery last year.
All three are chomping at the bit and will be coming out looking for the win this afternoon.
With some quality players still to come back into this team, the lads will be looking to impress to keep their places as the season develops and that can only be a good thing.
The quality of the teams in this year’s competition looks to be higher than ever before.
The results in the Challenge Cup support this with some NCL teams beating and pushing close some of the professional teams.
This definitely looks like being the most competitive season yet and Mayfield are looking to to be up there competing with the best.