Some games don't need a lot of tries, or points for entertainment and when Rochdale Mayfield hosted Hunslet ARLFC at Keswick Street on Saturday, this was one of those occasions.
Not that there weren't a fair share of talking points such as the performance of visiting trio Ben Shulver and Jack and Craig McShane, nor the defence of Devlin Long or the sheer tenacity of the hosts pack, or an effervescent performance from fullback Jordan Parr.His first real involvement came in the fourth minute when linking with halfbacks Sam Wright and Devlin Long close to the line. Mayfield then forced a drop out before Hunslet had a Kieran Webster score disallowed in the tenth minute due to obstruction.
Wayne English couldn't keep hold of Parr's pass moments later, but the hosts did open scoring after 18 minutes when former Lancashire player Luke Fowden grounded a teasing Sean Penkywicz kick and Parr goaled.
With Danny Rowse trying hard to unlock the Mayfield defence for Hunslet and Jack McShane getting through a mountain of tackling, the visitors were never out of an absorbing contest. On the half hour Will Cohen was tackled into touch by English and Dakota Tolhurst.
Tolhurst was in the action again when penalised for a high tackle on Craig McShane after a weaving run from the Hunslet fullback. The visitors also had the final chance of the half when Mackenzie Haigh knocked on near the line.
In the second half, Hunslet started to win more territory, yet Rochdale Mayfield battled well to keep their visitors scoreless until the 56th minute when Craig McShane forced his way over and Rowse goaled to level the game.
Almost immediately Hunslet had a further opportunity when the Mayfield restart was too big, but Rowse couldn't find touch and the hosts countered. Cohen couldn't take a long kick cleanly, but the visitors defended their line.
Just after the hour Mayfield had an attacking scrum. Dec Sheridan took play left and Wright looked to have unpicked the defence but his pass sailed into touch behind English. Parr was then denied after 66 minutes while excellent defence from Devlin Long at the other end saw Webster lose possession after Ben Shulver's hulking carry.
Rowse missed a drop goal attempt after 74 minutes before a dramatic play saw Sheridan and Jack Mconachie combine and Kristian Mcveigh crossed in the corner. It proved too wide to convert for Parr, but Mayfield led 10-6.
Hunslet threw everything at Mayfield in the closing stages, forcing a drop out before Jack McShane was held up, but it just wasn't their day in the face of some fierce tackling, and when Andy Hullock attempted to chip over the defence, Sam Wright recovered with only a last-ditch cover tackle denying the halfback a spectacular kick return try, they knew that time was up, and Mayfield had inflicted their first defeat of the campaign in a sunshine thriller.
Elsewhere, in the Premier Division, York Acorn maintained their impressive form with victory over Leigh Miners Rangers, Wath Brow Hornets ran riot at Wigan St Pats, Thatto Heath Crusaders edged Lock Lane and there were home wins for Siddal over Hull Dockers and West Hull over Kells.
Stanningley collected a big win against Ince Rose Bridge in Division One, while Oulton Raiders maintained the pressure on West Bowling, who beat Thornhill Trojans on Thursday evening, following a home success against Crosfields, Heworth won big against Pilkington Recs, Egremont enjoyed an away win at Featherstone Lions, Skirlaugh edged Clock Face Miners.
Woolston Rovers and Waterhead Warriors topped fifty points against Normanton Knights and Dewsbury Celtic respectively while Saddleworth Rangers found Dewsbury Moor Maroons too hot to handle and there was away success for Wigan St Judes at Myton Warriors and Barrow Island at Milford in Division Two.
Division Three results brought big wins on the road for Leigh East over Seaton Rangers, Oldham St Annes at Hensingham, while Millom also enjoyed away success at Bentley. Ellenborough Rangers bounced back with a win over Drighlington and Eastmoor collected their fourth win in a row over Beverley.
RESULTS
Thur 11 May 2023
Division One
- West Bowling 32 Thornhill Trojans 10
Sat 13th May 2023
Premier Division
- York Acorn 42 Leigh Miners Rangers 18
- Wigan St Patricks 6 Wath Brow Hornets 60
- West Hull 38 Kells 16
- Siddal 36 Hull Dockers 12
- Rochdale Mayfield 10 Hunslet ARLFC 6
- Lock Lane 10 Thatto Heath Crusaders 16
Division One
- Stanningley 52 Ince Rose Bridge 10
- Oulton Raiders 26 Crosfields 10
- Heworth 40 Pilkington Recs 12
- Featherstone Lions 26 Egremont Rangers 48
- Clock Face Miners 16 Skirlaugh 18
Division Two
- Normanton Knights 16 Woolston Rovers 50
- Waterhead Warriors 58 Dewsbury Celtic 24
- Saddleworth Rangers 6 Dewsbury Moor Maroons 46
- Myton Warriors 24 Wigan St Judes 34
- Milford 22 Barrow Island 23
- Seaton Rangers 6 Leigh East 68
- Hensingham 12 Oldham St Annes 42
- Ellenborough Rangers 36 Drighlington 10
- Eastmoor Dragons 24 Beverley 14
- Bentley 18 Millom 34
FIXTURES
Sat 20th May 2023
Premier Division- Hull Dockers v Kells
- Leigh Miners Rangers v Rochdale Mayfield
- Lock Lane v West Hull
- Wath Brow Hornets v Hunslet ARLFC
- Wigan St Patricks v Thatto Heath Crusaders
- York Acorn v Siddal
Division One
- Crosfields v Stanningley
- Egremont Rangers v Skirlaugh
- Featherstone Lions v Heworth
- Oulton Raiders v Clock Face Miners
- Pilkington Recs v West Bowling
Division Two
- Woolston Rovers v Waterhead Warriors
- East Leeds v Saddleworth Rangers
- Dewsbury Moor Maroons v Myton Warriors
- Dewsbury Celtic v Normanton Knights
- Barrow Island v Shaw Cross Sharks
Division Three
- Ellenborough v Beverley
- Drighlington v Leigh East
- Millom v Hensingham
- Oldham St Annes v Seaton Rangers
Sunday 21st May 2023
- Bentley v Eastmoor Dragons
