Cheshire Cup hopes dashed by Chester

WITH my successor being away on a break I make a very brief return to the columns for one week to give a ‘catch up’ on activities at Priory Park before I also take to the roads into North Wales for a few days.

As we approach the start of our new campaign in the North Premier league on Saturday when the lads take the long trip up to the North East to take on old rivals Blaydon, it was the Cheshire Cup that took our attention at Priory Park on Saturday when Cheshire neighbours Chester paid a visit for the semi final encounter.

Sadly for Macc they returned to their Vicars Cross HQ with a narrow 22-18 victory which sees them progress through to the final round whilst our lads can now settle into a few months of league encounters with some new teams to meet on the way as we seek to move back up the leagues with a trip up to where the famous ‘Races’ took place many years ago on Saturday but I am sure that the coaching staff will have been glad to get a competitive game under the belt before the long and arduous league campaign begins.

It was a much changed squad that took to the field on Saturday after last season and hopefully the experience will ‘gel’ the lads together as we set out on the long road – hopefully back to National Two North for next season.

There were plenty of promising signs of good things to come which should will develop over the coming weeks – watch this space.

On a positive note it was pleasing to see former club skipper Rick Jones return to the club in his role as assistant to lead coach Andy Appleyard in his first full season in charge and whilst both would have enjoyed a ‘W’ on the day it certainly gives them grounds for optimism for the challenges ahead.

For ‘Clubman’ it has been a bit of an up and down week with my other rugby love from childhood (The Wire) bringing back the Challenge Cup to the Halliwell Jones a week ago Saturday but then losing their next league game at Salford.

Thus are the ‘ups and downs’ of sport which makes it all so unpredictable at times. Long may that be so.

However for Macclesfield it is now down to getting on with life in the North Premier League with that trip to Blaydon’s Crow Trees Ground in Swalwell on Saturday and for those travelling it is some 160 odd miles from my Tytherington home so allow a good 3 to 3 and a half hours travel time. Post code for you travelling fans is NE16 3BM. Let’s hope for a result which I will be looking for from my holiday base in Anglesey come 5pm Saturday!!

As the new season begins on Saturday with the league encounters there is not much happening at Priory Park with just the Third XV playing at home this weekend and fixtures are as follows:

1st v. Blaydon – Away 2nd v. – Free Week 3rd v. Rossendale 2 – Home

4thth v. Stockport 3 – Away

That’s it for now – as always ‘Enjoy your Rugby’.