Coventry drive home fine margins

NATIONAL LEAGUE 1

SATURDAY against Coventry proved another day that exemplified the small margins between upper-table security and the threat of the drop.

On a heavy pitch and in difficult conditions, the game was dominated by the set piece.

Macclesfield had the better of the scrums but the Coventry lineout was unassailable with Darrell securing ample possession. Coventry used this intelligently with Daynes regularly crossing the gainline and setting quality ball.

Macclesfield opened the scoring through Parkinson after a controlled series of drives in field with Morton adding the extras but then Coventry gradually asserted control through the work of the forwards and the vision of Fenner at fly half.

This led to tries from Howe and, to highlight the dominance of the lineout, Willis went over from a driving maul that started on the home team’s 10 metre line.

The lead was further stretched after an outside break from Fenner from another lineout that put Coventry behind the Macclesfield defence.

A penalty from Fenner closed the scoring at half time with Coventry leading 22-7.

Coventry continued to assert pressure in the second half with tries for Hodgson and a second for Willis. Despite this, Macclesfield never gave up and finished the scoring after a prolonged period of pressure that culminated with Parfitt going under the posts from a quick tap penalty.

MATCH DATA HALF-TIME: 7-22 MACCLESFIELD TRIES: CONVERSIONS: COVENTRY TRIES:

Parkinson, Parfitt Morton (2) Howe, Willis (2), Fenner, Hodgson

CONVERSIONS: PENALTIES: ATTENDANCE:

Fenner (3) Fenner (2) 434