Blues maintain strong finish
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1
MACCLESFIELD continued their fine run of muchimproved form by claiming victory against Blackheath at the weekend.
The Blues had been the better side in their previous two matches against teams placed second and fourth in the league – so seventh-placed Blackheath must have been expecting a tough encounter and so it proved to be as the visitors found themselves 21-0 down at half time.
The Blues scored after five minutes from the electric Matt King breaking through from 35 metres out, and then a huge maul saw the Blues pull further ahead through Sam Moss on 17 minutes.
The home side were enjoying scrum supremacy and, after turning the ball over at an opposition scrummage in the red zone, the Cheshire side’s resulting scrum pushed over, Parkinson touching down on the half hour.
Blackheath threatened just before the break but Macc defended their 22 resolutely and looked in control 21-0.
After the break the home fans were really put through the ringer, with Blackheath grabbing the first score five minutes in when Liston made pressure tell, and nerves were really tested when a lose ball from Tom Eaton fell to winger Lloyd who ran it in (21-12).
The Blues were put under massive pressure in the remainder, with only a penalty from 38 metres by Lewis Barker to alleviate the pressure. A huge set in the last 10 minutes saw the Blues hold the visitors off.
Blackheath chucked it around at the end in pursuit of the bonus point but Macclesfield’s defence was immense.
Supporters the Cheshire club must be wondering ‘what if’ with the form they have showed of late but either way they have showed they are no pushovers.
Lomax, Hall, Brierley, L. Barker, King, Eaton, Allsop and Mantell, Moss, Robinson, Finnemore, Marwick, F. Barker, Parfitt, R. Parkinson. Replacements: Millea, Millar-Mills, O. Parkinson, Smith, Broster
King (5), Moss (17), Parkinson
MACCLESFIELD: TRIES:
(30)
CONVERSIONS:
Barker (3)
PENALTIES: BLACKHEATH:
L. Barker (61) Mvlease, Chapman, Burcham, Pickersgill, Lloyd, Cooke, Bedding and Croall, Fry, Baker, Owen, Stradwick, Walker, Liston, Baldwin. Replacements: Haskins, Scutt, Gillanders, Whatling, Hamilton Liston (44), Lloyd (49) Cooke 302 Dr Jonathan Cook 21-0 Billy Robinson (Macclesfield) J Cook
TRIES: CONVERSIONS: ATTENDANCE: REFEREE: HALF-TIME: STAR MAN: REFEREE: