Opportunity to take stock for the Blues

TRAVELLING back from Anglesey meant that I did not watch any action on Saturday as Macclesfield made the trip to Dore Moor in the hope of victory.

Sadly it was not to be as they suffered a heavy and worrying defeat at the hands of a Sheffield Tigers outfit that pre match sat just above us in National Two North.

There is clearly much work to be done as we await our next game against Tynedale who visit Priory Park (Saturday 17th) and perhaps with no game this weekend the squad can get in some hard work on the training park in readiness for that encounter.

The result against Tigers meant that we slip eight points behind South Leicester who sit immediately above us in the table and who were soundly beaten at home by a Chester side that is currently hitting some good form on Saturday.

Elsewhere in Two North current leaders Hull Ionians won the Yorkshire ‘Derby’ against Huddersfield in a close 20-15 encounter while Hinckley won well against visiting Sedgley Park.

Newcomers and currently the only side below us in the table Peterborough Lions lost out to visiting Otley. In the North East Tynedale beat Preston Grasshoppers in what sounds a cracker of a game by 31-29 and in another pointsfest at Wharfedale the home side beat Leicester Lions by 34-30.

By coincidence after this weekend’s break we play both Tyne and Peterborough in the following games. Fylde beat Stourbridge in the Midlands 36-18 all of which means that as we approach the first ‘break’ of the season there is much work to be done on the training ground before that Tynedale fixture.

Around Priory Park at the weekend there was an excellent ‘W’ for the 2nd XV who beat Preston Grasshoppers 39-19 but both the 3rd XV who lost to Kendal Seconds and the 4th XV who lost out in another high scoring game to Sandbach 3rds but despite the heavy defeat skipper Ryan Brown and veteran pack leader Jeremy Bostock took plenty of positives from the performance with a final try scored as the whole pack mauled 15 metres to the line for a Scott Goodfellow try.

It is good to see these former 1st XV stalwarts still enjoying their Rugby at Priory Park. Reminds me of the Stags XV of which I was a part for many seasons – many of whom still frequent Priory Park but nowadays as spectators and specialist beer tasters!!

I pen these notes after watching on TV an excellent RL encounter between England and New Zealand at Anfield won by England 20-14.

As well as that RL encounter of course there was a full programme of International Rugby on Saturday with Wales beating Scotland in a close encounter and Ireland swatting off Italy with seeming ease but a high scoring game between Japan and New Zealand with the All Blacks scoring no less than ten tries but, unusually, conceding five. More such encounters again this Saturday so plenty for the fans to savour.

On Wednesday 14 November at Priory Park starting at 8pm is what should be an excellent evening’s entertainment: - “Fly Half – The Play” which tells the story of a rugby player from South Wales and all the trials and tribulations of a player in a working class area and the families who head off to the match each weekend to support their local side. Tickets available priced at £10 & £8. Book your place now.

With no 1st team fixture on Saturday the games scheduled are as follows:2nd XV v. Caldy – Away 3rd XV v. Rochdale 2 – Away 4th XV v. Free Week

That’s it for now so enjoy your Rugby – I do