Mirfield Stags sweep aside early pace setters in some style

Richard Silverwood’s men scored nine tries – including a hat-trick from debutant winger Sam Ansell – to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season and move within two points of top spot.

Ansell opened the scoring in the seventh minute, before Ross Hayden followed up his successful conversion with a penalty goal.

Another debutant, centre AJ Boardman, crossed in the 21st minute before Hayden scored the try of the game as the full-back raced the length of the field, before rounding his opposite number to score a wonderful solo effort and extend the lead to 20-0

Odsal hooker Sam Hall scored his first try to reduce the deficit but Boardman went over for his second to stretch the Stags’ lead.

Odsal front-rower Daniel Dove crashed over late in the first half and scrum-half Steven Siddards converted to give the visitors a lifeline at 26-10 going into half-time.

A fast start to the second half from the Stags effectively put the game out of reach as Oliver Rounding and captain Reece Spurr crossed in quick succession.

Odsal front-rower Dove went over for his second try in the 51st minute, but a second from Ansell on the hour mark kept the Stags’ big lead intact.

The visitors refused to lie down and back-to-back tries from stand-off Paul Bottomley and a second of the afternoon from Hall made the score line look more respectable.

The Stags quickly rebuilt their healthy lead as Ansell completed his hat-trick, before Mikey Batty rounded off the scoring.

The Stags travel to Allerton Bywater on Saturday, with Batley Boys making the trip to Odsal having won three of their opening four matches.

The Boys were not in action last week when they were handed a 30-0 walkover against New Earswick but go into Saturday’s clash against the leaders buoyed by a 36-26 victory over Brotherton last time out when Mark Kitchingman (two), Adam Bingham, Jayjay Price, Luke Sheridan, Josh Whitehead and Kieran Wilby-Dean were their try scorers.

Dewsbury Moor travel to Division Four East high fliers Leeds Underdogs looking to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Sherburn Bears.