Opportunity slips away
THIS was another case of Macclesfield identifying a fixture they could get something from – but ultimately not taking the opportunity.
In the early exchanges both sides had plenty of phases but plenty of mistakes which meant there was no score until the visitors went ahead through full back Foster. Macclesfield wasted a couple of chances before conceding again, finding themselves 12-0 down after 27 minutes, but hit back with Marwick going over after some good try line pressure.
However, Albanians had kept the pace of the game high and broken a few times before Foster found the defensive line at sixes and sevens again to make it 17-5 at half time.
Any thoughts the Cheshire side had of an immediate fight back were quashed instantly as Foster found a gap straight from the restart. King picked over on 49 minutes to give the home side hope and then Barker stood over a penalty opportunity at 24-12
The Blues appeared to be growing into the game, but his kick hit the post and four minutes later Tuilagi grabbed the first of two Albanians tries within seven minutes.
Macclesfield pushed for the try bonus point after a lovely strike move on 73 minutes put Broster over, but too often their attacks were let down by handling errors – the story of their season.
Two more tries from Albanians against a clearly hurt Macclesfield team took the score to 50. It’s the must win of must win games for Macc against Ionians. If they come away from there with nothing to show for it, it’s pretty much lights out as far as survival is concerned.
Morton, Broster, Brierley, Winterbottom, King, L. Barker, Eaton and Mantell, Moss, Robinson, O. Parkinson, Marwick, F. Barker, Palmer, Parkinson (c). Replacements: Millea, Millar-Mills, Davidson, Palmer, Hall.
Marwick (31), King (49), Broster (73)
MACC: TRIES:
Barker x2
Foster, Pritchard, Burgess, Bedroll, Dowsett, Palmer, Daly and King, Miles, Garside, Bickle, Lennon, Nay, Stevens (C), Tuilagi. Replacements: Taylor, Boggis, Hughes, Gliksten, Smith.
Foster (20, 41, 69, 79), Daly (26), Bedroll (34), Tuilagi (57), Hughes (76)
CONVERSIONS: OLD ALBANIANS: TRIES:
Palmer x5 296 Mick Harris 5-17
CONVERSIONS: ATTENDANCE: REFEREE: HALF-TIME: