Saturday 26th January 2002
GMB UNION NATIONAL CUP ROUND 2
KEIGHLEY ALBION 14 ROCHDALE MAYFIELD 18

Matt Robinson goes for the gap
Picture by Trevor Smith

Albion’s visitors in today’s National cup were fellow Conference league team Rochdale Mayfield, who like Albion are struggling at the foot of their respective division.

Playing down the slope at Crossflatts Albion were first on the score sheet when John Gwilliam hoisted an enormous bomb into the Mayfield 22 area, and Albion were delighted when the Mayfield winger dropped the ball under pressure from Simon Marsden and the alert Kris Kirk scooped up the loose ball and charged over for a try, he also added the goal kick to give Albion a 6 points to nil lead in the 4^th minute.

Simon Marsden is hauled down
Picture by Trevor Smith

At this early stage the visitors were struggling to adapt and to keep up with Albion’s attacking play. A panic kick on the last tackle in the Mayfield 22 area saw Albion lose ground as the wind took the kick back behind the Albion players; to make it worse Albion were penalized for talking back to the Ref. From the deep kick into touch Albion were forced to defend their line and good play from Chris Wilkinson resulted in scrum half Adam Brown going over for a try, the goal attempt was of target but Mayfield were on the score board at Albion 6 – Mayfield 4 on the 12^th minute mark.

Garry Boocock is launched
Picture by Trevor Smith

Albion’s Andy Parker and Jim Coldwell were making good yards putting the visitors defence under pressure. Mayfield then came back at Albion who under pressure themselves gave away a silly penalty for holding down in front of the posts, Chris Wilkinson converting the goal to tie up the scores at 6 points apiece on 18 minutes. More good work from John Gwilliam and Kris Kirk resulted in a field goal from John Gwilliam to put Albion just in front at 7 points to 6 on the 20-minute mark.

Albion had to be strong in defence as the bigger Mayfield pack brought the play back into Albion’s quarter, but with Steve Wrench leading the line they saw off the Mayfield attackers until the 30^th minute when Craig Diggle went in for a well earned try, no goal to add but Mayfield were back in front with the score at Albion 7 points to Mayfield’s 10 points. Then in Albion’s next attack they came away with another point when John Gwilliam kicked another field goal to make the score Albion 8 – Mayfield 10 on 35 minutes.

Danny Bowness spins it out
Picture by Trevor Smith

Albion attacked again and this time it was Mayfield who were penalized for foul play but they spurned the kick at goal, running the ball wide but poor handling let them down and allowed Mayfield to take the iniative and they punished Albion by scoring another try through loose forward Craig Platt, no goal to add but it was now Albion 8 points – Mayfield 14 in the 39^th minute and this was also the Half Time score. It had been a see saw first half with both sides to there credit trying to play open rugby in poor conditions. HALF TIME SCORE Albion 8 points – Mayfield 14 points.

The 2^nd half started in windy rainy conditions but the pitch was holding up well. Albion now playing up the slope took the game to Mayfield but their defence was holding firm. Albion then created the first attacking move as Kris Kirk sent Simon Marsden on a touch line run for the try line only to be tackled into touch a metre short of the line, he was also injured in the tackle and had to be substituted. Mark Adams returning from injury replaced him but his return was short lived as he was injured again after only 5 minutes of action.

Ben Farrar nearly breaks loose
Picture by Trevor Smith

John Gwilliam was directing play for Albion and Kris Kirk was still causing Mayfield problems when ever he joined in to the attacking line, Steve Wrench was in at everything both in attack and defence. Albion then scored again when Gary Boococks midfield break in to the Mayfield half saw Matthew Robinson send Ed Billings storming in for a very good try, Kris Kirk converted the difficult goal to make it even stevens again at 14 points all on 61 minutes.

Andy Parker off-loads
Picture by Trevor Smith

With about 20 minutes left extra time looked on the cards, but some excellent open play between Ben Farrar and Neil Jordan saw Adam Lilley charging for the try line only to have the try disallowed for touch in goal. This stung Mayfield back in to action and centre Craig Diggle scored another quality try, no goal to add but it was now Albion 14 points to Mayfield’s 28 points on the71st minute marker.

Albion were still looking for more points but the old heads in the Mayfield side slowed the game down to their pace, to deny Albion from progressing any further in the national cup. For the visitors no one had worked harder for there cause than hooker Dave Harmer who was their Man of the Match well supported by 2 try Craig Diggle and Chris Wilkinson. For Albion Kris Kirk and Steve Wrench both had big games but it was John Gwilliam who took his teams Man of the Match award. It had been a hard fought Cup Tie played in the right spirit in far from ideal conditions, with neither team wanting to give anything away. FINAL SCORE ALBION 14 – MAYFIELD 18.

Next week Albion are at Cougar Park in a rearranged fixture against Milford Marlins with a 2-00 kick off.
Terry Caddy.

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