Seconds open with win at Preston

PRESTON G 2ND ...... 14 MACC 2ND XV .......... 18

MACCLESFIELD’S 2nd XV travelled to

Preston Grasshoppers for the first game of 2020, and after ending the 2019 calendar year with a win they were keen to carry on this habit.

The artificial surface suited the experienced fly-half, Giles Hetherington, and he combined well with debutant inside centre Gus Fiennes to get Macc over the gain line.

In the first half Macclesfield dominated territory and possession but frustratingly, not the score board. An early Macc penalty was overtaken by a well orchestrated, converted score by Grasshoppers, making it 7-3 at half time.

It was the forwards, through Tom Burden and Owen Jones, who set the platform for greater success in the second half. They were instrumental during a 10 minute passage of play that blew Grasshoppers away. Tries came from Lloyd Coates, Ben Holden and Tom Blackwell, pushing the score beyond the opposition.

Captain Sam Jones said “to get back-toback wins over the Christmas period is great; we’ve turned a corner following some tough fixtures previously. We’re aiming to make the Top 6 come the play-offs. It might be a step too far, but we’ll give it our best shot”. The 2nd team currently sit 7th in their league.

In an excellent free running game in which Macclesfield’s 3rd team didn’t concede one penalty, the side put up a very brave performance against a well-drilled Burnage team, with at least seven first team regular players.

They lost out in the end but it was a fine effort.

Try scorers for Macclesfield were: Cookie 2, Dave Kirk and Pat Ellis; players of note Pat Ellis, Elliot Jones at Hooker, who will play higher up the Club and Tom Jennings.