Lack of discipline cost the fourth team dearly

TRAVELLING a short distance the 4th played some excellent, adventurous rugby, with two apparently legitimate tries disallowed. This would have made the scoreline more reflective of the match.

The conditions did not encourage open running rugby, with strong winds and a sloping pitch to contend with. Admittedly, both sides had to adapt, but the younger home side were more used to the slope and utilised it beneficently.

Macclesfield’s half backs, Andrew Foster and Ben Hegginbotham, have an age difference of 36 years between them, Fozzy being 54 and Ben only 19. They read each others games remarkably well, making excellent solo breaks or moving the ball quickly to midfield where Paul Smith and Sam Bancroft use the possession in an exciting manner.

Chris Eissy and Jason Walker propped hooker Rufus Dixon. This is where the competition is fiercest, directly confronting the opposition. It is therefore most important to have a sound front row and Macclesfield are so fortunate to have such a sound front row.

Set scrums these days don’t out-hook opposition ball but they regularly win scrummage penalties. Further, with Rob McCloud and the experienced Jeremy Bostock as locks to guarantee line outs, set pieces have been really reliable this season.

Then the breakaway trio, Jake Lodge, Pat Ellis and try scorer Matt Price, cover and tackle intelligently. The best part of their game is the scavenging in the loose and mauls.

The team were very sagacious in the manner they used the bench, allowing players a short rest in the warm 20 degree weather. John Poyser, Jim Curtis, Guillaume Janine and Louis Smith rotated well, even the youngsters Alfie Wright and Josh Grubb had brief respites.

It was discipline that unfortunately cost them dearly, and led directly to the three tries conceded in the first half.

Ryan Brown, the captain, said afterwards that we have to learn to accept decisions even when finding them difficult to understand. Referees don’t change their minds!

The record of three wins and three defeats leaves the side mid table, so we need to be victorious against Congleton in the game next week.