Blues open gap to safety zone
THIS was a big game for the Blues if they were to put some distance between them and the drop zone.
Although Luctonians are bottom they have accumulated a high number of losing bonus points so clearly are competitive.
The visitors started the quicker, but spurned an early shot at goal and then an opportunity to maul inside the Blues’ ’22.
But Myles Hall managed to make a break from his own half, taking the Blues up field, a penalty was won and after the maul Charlie Reed ran a nice line to go under posts on 10 minutes.
Six minutes later the home side scored again through Moss who picked over from close range, after Barker and Parfitt combined to break in midfield.
The weather was a major factor in the remainder of the half as waves of blizzards pounded Priory Park and it was hard to see the other side of the pitch.
Macclesfield wasted couple of chances but under the circumstances it was forgivable.
Six minutes into the second half, after the chase of Davenports’ kick through forced a mistake by the defence, the Cheshire side scored of the resulting scrum through Lewis Barker who converted himself (21-0).
Moments later, Macclesfield put their best attacking set of the day together, filled with gainline carries before Broster broke down the left and combined with Parkinson to put Myles Hall under the posts and secure the five-pointer (28-0 on 48 minutes).
The Blues rang the changes and withstood a lot of phases of pressure from Luctionians who dominated the last 10 minutes and picked up two hard fought consolation tries, both from centre Kelly.
Berry, Moss, Robinson, Marwick, F. Barker, Palmer, Parfitt, Parkinson (c) and Townsend, L. Barker, Hall, Davenport, Broster, Reed, Lomax.Replacements: Nyemba, Poole, Twigg, Laing, Hampson. Kelly (64, 77)
Silver (78)
MACCLESFIELD (1-8 AND 15-9): TRIES: CONVERSIONS: LUCTONIANS (1-8 AND 15-9):
Smith, Kirby, White, Breese, Tawik, Monley, Robinson, Morell (c) and Watkins, Havelock, Kelly, Smith, Lester, Waugh, Silver. Replacements: Rigby, Xiourouppa, Hackley, Jones, Boxhall
Reed (10), Moss (16), L. Barker (46), Hall (48)
TRIES: CONVERSIONS:
49)
ATTENDANCE: REFEREE: HALF-TIME: STAR MAN:
L. Barker (11, 17, 47, 227 Dan Parrott 14-0 Dave Marwick