Priory Park mourns loss of loyal member
RUGBY football takes a back seat this weekend due to tragic events at Priory Park on Saturday afternoon just as the final whistle was about to blow on the Macc v Tynedale encounter when long standing member and supporter of the club Ron Townley collapsed in the clubhouse and sadly passed away shortly afterwards.
Ron came to Macclesfield Rugby Club some years ago and soon became a regular, joining in post match discussions over a pint with friends after games and also became a member of the Priory Park Investment Club, passing on his expertise at the monthly meetings of this group.
Ron had just enjoyed a family weekend in the Lake District the previous week and was a season ticket holder for The Blues.
A former Redcar Rugby Club member in his younger days, Ron will be greatly missed by all his friends at Macclesfield Rugby Club and our deep sympathy goes out at this time to his wife Bea and all his extended family at this difficult time.
Our thanks also must be extended to the Tynedale club whose supporters showed great empathy in the true spirit of rugby as events unravelled. Thanks also to those members and the Paramedics who worked so hard to save Ron.
As to the game itself the first half was forgettable as Macclesfield conceded 38 unanswered points and a serious defeat was on the cards. Whatever was said at the interval clearly had its effect as The Blues clawed back 35 unanswered points to gain a couple of valuable points and they completely dominated with the pack outstanding in the tight. A game which, in the end, given a few more minutes they might just have won. Let’s hope that this can continue when Sheffield visit in a couple of weeks’ time.
National Two North leaders Stourbridge were given a lesson on their home turf by a Sale side beginning to show its pedigree and their 39-16 victory will set off alarm bells elsewhere.
Second placed Hinckley won easily at Otley (38-15) while Sedgley Park maintained their challenge with a comprehensive 31-7 victory at Chester. At the ‘other’ end of the table Wharfedale sunk a bit deeper in the mire with a 53-33 home defeat at the hands of the ever improving Sheffield Tigers. Luctonians and Blaydon – both just below us in the table – both suffered narrow defeats at the hands of the Leicester sides South & Lions.
The Lions travelled over to Caldy and the Wirral club came out on top in a high scoring encounter but I have no other detail of the game and at Priory Park the Third XV entertained Rochdale Seconds in a League encounter and battled their way to a second victory of the season.
After a close opening quarter with no score the deadlock was broken with two tries in succession with Rochdale showing some moments of good play and clawed back a try to make it 12-5 at the break. Macclesfield dominated the second half, adding two more tries to close out the game 22-5 with scorers being Coolbeck (2) Wilson and Gregory with skipper Keep knocking over one conversion.
Travelling to play Sandbach Thirds, the 4th XV had only 13 players and were forced to start with two ‘loan’ players from the home club.
Macclesfield were leading into the second half when the home side ‘recalled’ one of their players and made a number of substitutions but despite being a man down Macc kept fighting and stayed on top until the 70th minute when they were beaten by three tries in quick succession to lose out by 34-24.
Away from Priory Park, the first weekend of the Autumn Internationals took place with England stuttering to a 21-8 victory over Argentina at HQ whilst Ireland convincingly beat South Africa 38-3 and Wales went down in Cardiff to Australia 29-21 with Scotland beating Samoa 44-38 in another high scoring encounter.
Games this weekend with the 1st XV as mentioned having a weekend off as follows:Lions v. Chester – Home – 2.15.pm. 3rd v. Preston Grasshoppers – Away 4th – Free weekend
That’s all for now – enjoy your Rugby – I do.