Hart-break as Blues lose again
Macclesfield remain without a point as College side enjoy emphatic win
THE Blues’ search for a first win of the season continued as they were soundly beaten by visitors Hartpury College.
The visitors arrived at Priory Park expecting a tough game, as a defiant Macclesfield were looking to improve on previous performances.
But Hartpury left with five points as they dominated all aspects of the game and starved Macclesfield of possession.
The two sides exchanged penalties early on, Macc’s Tom Eaton and Thompson for Hartpury scoring the points, and after 15 minutes the visitors led 6-3.
The first try of the game came after 20 minutes, Thompson showing some great footwork to dance through the Blues’ defence and breeze in under the posts.
The Hartpury fly-half converted his own score to make it 13-3.
The visitors had Macclesfield camped deep in their own half and on 30 minutes a poor clearance kick resulted in Carter getting himself over the line, Thompson once again adding the extras on what was a faultless afternoon for the Hartpury kicker.
On 37 minutes a dominant Hartpury pack turned over a scrum close to the Macclesfield line, the ball was shipped out and inside centre Boulton reaped the rewards.
Thompson once again added the extras to take the visitors into half-time 27-3 to the good.
After the break the Blues were once again let down by poor discipline as Ryan Jackson was sent to bin with 55 minutes on the clock.
Hartpury made the extra man count immediately as they scored to extend their lead past 30 points, leaving the score at 34-3.
As Jackson returned to the field for the Blues Hartpury had a man themselves sent to the bin, but although Macclesfield had the extra man for 10 minutes and enjoyed their only prolonged spell of possession in the game they couldn’t turn that into any points.
Macclesfield then had replacement Greg Newton sent to the bin for foul play and the game petered out with no real tryscoring opportunities created until two minutes from time when Jackson intercepted a Macc pass and sprinted in to make the final score 41-3.
The Blues will feel aggrieved by some of the refereeing decisions that could’ve gone either way, especially at the scrum, but they know they must improve in a number of areas if they are to get their first win and put some points on the board.
Macclesfield travel to Darlington Mowden Park this weekend, the scene of their League Two North title win last year, but they’ll know what an extremely tough place it is to go and win games. Blaydon 21 – 16 Coventry
Esher 29 – 28 Fylde Macclesfield 3 – 41 Hartpury College Old Albanians 12 – 35 Blackheath Richmond 30 – 27 Darlington MP Wharfedale 8 – 21 Ealing Trailfinders
Cinderford 32 – 28 Tynedale L’boro Students 27 – 36 Rosslyn Park Hartpury College v Esher, Blackheath v Blaydon, Coventry v Wharfedale, Darlington MP v Macclesfield, Ealing Trailfinders v Cinderford, Fylde v L’boro Students, Rosslyn Park v Old Albanians, Tynedale v Richmond.