Mirfield Stags make winning return to action

The Stags battled to a 26-8 victory at home to Bramley Buffaloes to put an immediate marker down for the campaign ahead.

Silverwood described the display as “outstanding” and was particularly pleased with the way his forwards performed in their first game for some time.

He said: “They offered exactly what I thought - some young lads who were really game and got in our faces - but we weathered the storm and I thought after 10 or 15 minutes we started to come into our own.

“In the second half we really dominated.

“I thought our forward pack was outstanding, especially our middles. Flanagan was class and Matty Harding who’s joined us recently, was great.

“We’ve still lots to work on and we can get around the field better, that will come with our combinations, getting our regular halves together at training.

“If we can get our combinations right, coupled with our pack we can trouble most teams in this league.”

Silverwood is expecting a tough challenge for his team when away to Westgate Common in their second game this Saturday, with the Wakefield-based team winning their opener 20-0 at Keighley Albion.

The Stags coach added: “It will be a very tough game. With the players they have just signed they’re probably favourites to win this league.

“But we’ll go there full of confidence. We’ll check our players for injuries this week and hopefully we’ve got a couple more returning.”

Against Bramley in the first league match of 2021 Mirfield showed their defensive strength in the opening half, particularly as they had to play 10 minutes with a man down after Shaw was sin-binned.

But they edged to a 10-4 interval lead following tries by Casey Canterbury and Ryan Fenton.

Further tries from Phil Shotton, Alex Bull and Harding sealed victory after the break.

Dominic Flanagan and Philip Shotton (two) kicked conversions.

Dewsbury Moor’s Yorkshire Men’s League team made a poor start to the season when they were well beaten, 86-0, away to Castleford outfit Lock Lane in Division Four.

It was tough going as well for Shaw Cross Sharks as they were beaten 48-0 in a local derby at Batley Boys in Division Five North.

Despite tries from Kristian Green and Matthew Goodwill plus two goals by Michael Dyson, Birstall Victoria went down to a 31-12 defeat at home to Featherstone Lions in their opening Division Five North fixture.