We can bounce
HEAD coach Marshall Gadd believes Saturday’s loss to Wharfedale was not a huge blow and his Macclesfield side must dust themselves off and move on with the remainder of the season.
Some 19 second half unanswered points from Wharfedale proved enough to earn them a bonus point win and heap the pressure on relegation threatened Macclesfield.
The Blues are now 10 points from safety behind 14th placed South Leicester and are only four points clear of bottom side Peterborough Lions.
Wharfedale took the lead early on after Harry Bullough intercepted a loose pass from Tom Morton and ran the length of the pitch to score a converted try.
Macclesfield then got themselves on the scoreboard through a penalty kick by Morton.
But Joshua Burridge scored for the away side after he powered through for an unconverted try.
Jack Blakeney-Edwards enhanced Wharfedale’s lead as he scored a penalty kick.
Macc were given a way back into the contest as Bullough was sent to the sin bin on 30 minutes and they got back into the game, through an unconverted try by Sam Moss which was scored five minutes after Macc’s opening try through Dan Lomax.
Lomax finished a fantastic move by the Macc backline, going over in the corner.
Meanwhile, Moss used his power to score from close range, capping a good performance from the forward.
Discipline was a major issue for Macc themselves as they received three yellow cards in the contest, with Gadd rightly saying: “We can’t compete with anybody with 14 men on the field for a third of the game.”
The turning point in the match was just before halftime when Macc looked destined for another try but unfortunately the ball was knocked on just before the line.
Gadd said: “We just didn’t have the composure and patience to get over the line.”
Macc never recovered from that, not scoring any points in the whole of the second half.
Two quickfire scores from close range by forwards George Hedgley and Philip Woodhead, sealed the victory and things for Macc went from bad to worse as they conceded another interception try late on, this time through Philip Woodhead.
Wharfedale then closed out a vital win to distance themselves from the threat of relegation.
Gadd said: “Some people didn’t perform to the best of their ability and there was an accumulation of errors that led to the defeat.
“We’ve got a tough game next week away at Leicester Lions, who are also scrapping for points.
“They are one of the most physical sides in the league, so we know what we’re up against.
“We need to get points on the board.
“I’m not worried about the performances, we just need points.
“Nine times out of ten though, if the performance is good the result usually follows.”