Learning curve at Kirkby Lonsdale

MACCLESFIELD Ladies XV travelled away to play Kirkby Lonsdale Ladies on Saturday as the precursor to the 1st XV’s North Premiership match against Kirkby Lonsdale.

The Ladies, captained by Mary Thorp, travelled with 13 players for this friendly and were loaned two players by the opposition.

Macc Ladies are a development side and are recruiting and training a squad that aims to compete in a league in the next season or two.

It was a great experience to play a side that has been on a similar journey and that is now playing regularly in a league.

Despite the score line (43-0), the Ladies acquitted themselves really well, demonstrating some strong defence and good handling skills in attack. The commitment from every player was huge and nobody wanted to ‘let-the-sidedown’.

The squad has improved with every game played this season, morale is good and the atmosphere amongst the group is fun and infectious.

This is the first season of rugby for a number of members of the squad and everyone has embraced the core values and culture of the sport of Rugby in general, and of Macclesfield Rugby Club in particular.

The Club is actively looking for new players, no matter how experienced, so if you are interested please have a look at the website and give us a call.

Training takes place on Tuesday evenings from 7pm with coaches Simon

Dempsey and Tony King.

It was the first time the Ladies had travelled away with the 1st XV, who won their game 24-54 and the atmosphere in the clubhouse at Kirkby Lonsdale after the matches was fantastic. Some said it was a shame that the teams had to travel in separate coaches (because of the difference in kick off times)!

Meanwhile, Macclesfield 3s travelled across to the Lancashire Coast to play a Fylde team that has struggled over the last few weeks, having to concede their game last week.

With both team fielding a bare 15, without substitutes, Macc started the stronger with some impressive forward power both in the Scrummage and loose, resulting in two early tries for Benn Holden.

Another try shortly afterwards, by Brad Atherton, following some great interplay between Dale Crompton and George Hodkinson, converted by Chris Gleave, gave Macc a 17 point lead with 20 minutes on the clock.

A further try for Pat Ellis gave Macc a 21-point lead at half time.

It is questionable whether the referee tried to even things up, as Macclesfield started to turn the screw and build up the pressure, as the penalty count increased the game became very disjointed.

Fylde never looked like scoring, until Dale was yellow carded for allegedly letting fly with a few expletives and Lewis Jones had to leave the field for an

HIA without returning.

Although winning by a healthy margin, the most impressive part of the game was the defence in that 8 – 9 minutes with only 13 players against 15, the defence was remarkable and showed the true spirit of this side as Fylde battered our line with nothing to show for it.

Macc scored a number of tries in the last 20 minutes, Sam Bancroft scored from the halfway line, Cameron Mackay from a similar distance.

George Hodgkinson also got on the score board as did Brockey, but the pick of the bunch was the late try by Jake Robinson under the posts into injury time after deft hands by prop Ben Holden, who truly deserved his Man of the Match performance.

Next week Macc 3s take on top of the table Kirby Lonsdale at home, so we need everybody available please for that one!