Five-point haul keeps Blues top
MACCLESFIELD ensured they kept their lead at the top of National Two North with a bonus point win away at South Leicester in tricky conditions.
The Blues were at one stage down to 13 men but a second half brace from substitute Ryan Parkinson ensured Macc travelled back north with five points.
The Blues played some fine rugby in the opening stages as they looked to move the hosts around. On ten minutes, the first score came.
Macc won a penalty, which Tom Eaton dispatched to the corner. The rolling maul then rumbled it’s way over the line for David Marwick to dot down.
Macclesfield made
it two tries in a minute immediately after when they scored straight from the kick off, The Blues went the length of the pitch with Franky Barker starting and finishing the move under the posts for Eaton to convert, taking the scoreline to 0-12.
On the half hour mark, Macc lost two players in a minute as Marwick and Tom Mantell were sent to the sin bin for offending in a maul.
The hosts made The Blues pay immediately as the following line out drive resulted in a converted try.
The Blues did well to eat up time on the clock and Tom Eaton kicked a penalty to extend The Blues’ lead.
South Leicester got a fortunate score on the stroke of half time to ensure that the game was a close one going into the second half.
A charged down clearance kick resulted in a South Leicester playing collecting the loose ball to score.
The Blues started the brighter of the two sides after the break, and after just two minutes Tom Eaton added another three points.
On 45 minutes Macclesfield has their third try, Ryan Parkinson the man to score from another strong driving maul just seconds after coming off the bench.
Parkinson completed his brace five minutes later and secured the bonus point win for The Blues who looked comfortable for the entirety of the second period, 12-32.
The five point win means Macclesfield retain their ten point lead at the top of National Two North.
The Blues host Tynedale at Priory Park on Saturday and will look to mark their first home game of 2016 with another win.
15 Charlie Venables, 14 Josh Fowles, 13 Elliot Brierley, 12 Matt O’Regan, 11 Rhodri Mayor, 10 Tom Eaton, 9 Jordan Brookes 1 Tom Mantell, 2 Sam Moss, 3 Elliot Mills, 4 Dave Marwick, 5 Harrison Lewis, Mike Finnemore, 7 Max Smith, 8 Ryan Parkinson 16 PJ Millea, 17 Marshall Gadd, 18 Martin Kent, 19 Ryan Parkinson, 20 Matt King
Dave Marwick, Franky Barker, Ryan Parkinson 2
MACC:
TRIES: