Return2Rugby is back at Macc

THE weekend didn’t bring quite as many tries as last week’s record-breaking 52 (a paltry 41), but it was still full of last-minute sensational finishes.

Friday night rugby fun and games started early, with Gloucester needing a win after their heavy beating last week against Quins, and Exeter resting half their team for the arrival of Lyon this Saturday. Although Exeter’s

Hodge scored the try-of-the-season, so far, the fun stopped there with the Chiefs going down 34-18.

What followed, according to many of our French friends, was supposed to be an academic win against the plucky Scots, after all they hadn’t won in Paris for 21 years; although Townsend had written a different script. Scotland’s South African got the scoring going, and whilst France responded, their thirteen points at half-time was always going to make it very difficult to get the full five points and a synchronistic 21-point difference. France lost their shape in the second half, as they panicked for points, while the clock clicked down. A poorly timed hand-off by Finn Russell turned into a red card fend to the throat, with ten minutes to go, but the Scots would not lie down. Van der Merwe secured the match-winner.

Wales were already rejoicing their Championship and whilst Scotland had not moved-on statistically, they had the prized scalps of both England and Scotland to toast over a dram or two.

Saturday’s action saw a nail biter at Ashton Gate where Bristol sneaked it at the death, with a penalty try against Quins to win 35-33. Northampton crushed Saints scoring nine tries, with Sleightholme bagging four. Once again Sale Sharks’ aggressive style was costly in the penalty count, with four yellow cards in the second half.

Their ferocity is winning them games, but they need to be more precise. Saying that, the first card against Luke James, his first ever, seemed exceedingly harsh.

Josh Bassett completely lost his footing in the tackle with James subsequently making head contact. The Officials breakdown of the incident seemed to be at odds with the video footage shown, and whilst following World Rugby’s protocols, they had little sympathy with the game of rugby.

Sale were down to 13 players on 70 minutes and 6 points behind, but their aggression took any sting out of Wasps that was left, with Beaumont going over in the red, and du Preez slotting the conversion for the four points 19-20.

And at Macclesfield we now reprise the Return2Rugby. As of this week the Seniors are back in training, as are the Ladies, and Walking Rugby, Touch Rugby and Mini and Junior’s are all back.