Fourths adapt well on Glossop’s slope
GLOSSOP 2ND XV MACCLESFIELD 4TH
JEREMY Bostock, 4th team captain, was delighted as his side pulled off their fourth successive victory at Glossop, on their notoriously sloping pitch, with a handsome score-line of 0-39.
This was an impressive performance played in a strong wind and coping with the infamous slope. Macclesfield are not actually top of their league but another couple of wins will cement their place in the play-offs.
The forwards were very good and the fixture saw a welcome return to the fold of Craig Philips, his first game of rugby for four years as Hooker, he was propped by Mike Dale and Jason Walker.
Behind them were the giant pairing of Bostock and Jack Nicholas, who yet again was amongst the try scorers, he’s now accumulated the impressive return of 12 in 12 games.
Making up the
Forwards the back row trio was Lewis Smith, Simon Street and Troy Croaker; Glossop must have been overwhelmed even before the kick off by the size of the pack. Half backs continued their understanding, the two Smiths, Nick at fly half and Paul at scrum half – the latter scoring a very good team try, diving over the line following a 25 metre rolling maul.
In Ryan Brown’s absence Nick kicked three conversions and a penalty, his first points from the boot for 5 years.
Matt Price and Matt Humphreys in the centre both touched down for tries, this will be Price’s last game for three months, he’s going into hospital for a bone graft; he’s been playing since October with a fractured wrist with complications that prevented it healing naturally.
Keiran Merriman is also accumulating plenty of tries and James Parsons at full back, these two both scored, but Jim Moore on the opposite wing missed out this week.
On the subs bench Carl ‘Mad Dog’ Downes and Bill Latham added impetus when they came on for 30 minutes and it was a return to the colours for Rufus Dixon after a six week long injury.
Bostock will hope they continue this excellent form when they entertain Old Bedians 3rd team next Saturday.