Mayfield too strong for Saints

IN AT THE CORNER . . . Kieran McGinnity dives over for Oldham St Anne's. PICTURES by ANTHONY MILLER

ROCHDALE Mayfield regained the Napier Windows-sponsored Oldham Amateur League Standard Cup with a comfortable 32-8 success over Oldham St Anne's at Manor Park.

Saints, the underdogs, had 13 players making their first appearance in a major final and put in an excellent display of rugby against their more experienced opponents from the top flight of the National Conference League.

This was Mayfield's sixth final appearance on the trot, having won three and losing the other two by a couple of points.

Saints made had a perfect start as Kieran McGinnity scored in the corner in the seventh minute.

Mayfield had to wait until the end of the first quarter before they opened their account and it was Rochdale Hornets favourite Chris Hough, who crossed.

IMPETUS

A triple substitution moments later - Declan Sheridan, Aidie Gleeson and James Shaw entered the fray - provided the impetus for further Mayfield tries.

Centre Matty Ashton went the length of field, before Sheridan with a beautiful show of footwork went in under the posts. Zac Hartley added both goals for a 16-4 lead at the interval.

Driving rain the first period was replaced by an improvement in the conditions for the second half.

The Saints pack matched their opponents, with Matty Bottom, John Deakin, Jonny Horton, Carl Fields and loose-forward Paddy Fitzsimmons driving the ball forward.

St Anne's, from Division Three of the NCL, notched their second try when prop-forward Chris Yarwood broke clear and sent in McGinnity.

The points gap was eight, but Mayfield had the advantage of an extra man when Matthew Whitehead was sin-binned for interference in the tackle with eight minutes remaining.

AUTHORITY

Mayfield took advantage, with former Saints player Shaw reasserting his side's authority before Ashton and Wayne English increased the tally. Hartley again adding two goals.

In what was an otherwise clean game, came to an untidy end with a mass brawl, Fields and James Connoughton were sent off fighting.

On behalf of Oldham Rugby Trust, Tony Finan adjudged Gleeson to be the winner of the Ben Powell Trophy (man-of-the-match), just edging Saints' Fitzsimmons for the award.

Teams -

Mayfield: L Sheridan, W English, M Ashton, J McDaid, K Harmer, P Brearley, Z Hartley, J Connoughton, L Ainley, S Mulcahy, C Hough, S Watkins, Z Baker, D Sheridan, J Shaw, SP Campbell, A Gleeson.

Tries: M Ashton (2), C Hough, J Shaw, W English. Goals: Z Hartley (4)

St Anne's: D Fletcher, C Basnett, P Ainsworth, J Harley, K McGinnity, M Whitehead, R Powell, C Yarwood, J Horton, M Bottom, J Deakin, C Fields, P Fitzsimmons, L Skilling, S Akeroyd, O Bryan, R Wareing.

Tries: K. McGinnity (2).

Referee: Paul Knowles.

Attendance: 1,100 (estimated).