Getting front row up to speed priority for Andy
RUGBY UNION DAVID WILKINSON
LAST week, Chairman of Macclesfield Rugby Club, Stephen Branch, rallied the playing membership to find their boots and get down to training at Priory Park, in preparation for a return to league rugby, after a lay-off of 18 months.
Although the 1st team has had no league fixtures since March 2020, the players have had plenty of action, in the various adaptations of the game, since coming out of the first lockdown.
On the 19th July fullcontact rugby training (scrum, ruck and maul) returned to community rugby; and following that, from the 7th August, fullcontact matches can take place.
Speaking to lead coach, Andy Appleyard, he was very conscious that the forwards, particularly the front row forwards, would need time to get up to match conditioning, after such a long lay-off; added to which the squad is strengthened by several new forwards, who have yet to show their strengths in the fullcontact format.
Forwards’ Coach Rick Jones will have been champing-at-the-bit to get the boys back in full contact action; so far, the sessions have been going very well, with some of the new names in the squad starting to show their potential.
Two of the forwards to come back to the Club are Chris Roddy and Brendan Berry.
Roddy, is a very experienced rugby player having previously played for and against Macclesfield with Stourbridge and Preston Grasshoppers, as well as Great Britain Police and Cheshire; his physical presence will be welcome in the second row.
This is also Brendan Berry’s second stint at Macclesfield, each time coming from Sedgley Park; Berry is a versatile front row forward as well as having the pace to provide cover in the back row – an adaptability that won’t go unnoticed by the coaching team, particularly with the restricted number of replacements allowed in the North Premier league.
To get the squad in shape Andy Appleyard is organising several preseason warm-up games one of which will be a Cheshire Cup fixture against Wirral, the date to be confirmed.
The first league fixture of the new season is at home to newly promoted Burnage; expect a big crowd, membership and season tickets are now available via the website.