Keep returns to tee up late, dramatic win

MACC 3RD XV ............... 43 KNUTSFORD .................. 38

THE third team had a close encounter to neighbours Knutsford, with Club sponsor David Marchington telling the tale of his son’s winning try, in the Sin Bin bar on Saturday evening; here

tells his tale, in his own particular way.

On a glorious September Saturday afternoon, the Mighty Macclesfield 3s took to the pitch full of confidence.

This new look team was scattered with youth, and a blend of grey-haired elders (apart from Simon Grant, who still has a suspicious full dark head of hair) from days past. As expected the game started at a furious pace, and the youngsters linked well.

Bowden Snr was in a panic when his agoraphobia kicked in, finding himself in an unfamiliar situation on the wing, luckily, Bowden Jnr (Ben) appeared in support to finish off the last few yards and open the scoring.

That seemed to spur Knutsford into action and they hammered the Macclesfield try line for the next 25 minutes.

Tries were exchanged, as were a few handbags.

Our front row was strengthened by the return of Effiy (Chris Effinfham), and the ever present Elliot Jones.

When Pete Langley appeared from the bushes, the scene was set. They were ably supported in the second row by the man mountain Gareth, who was playing his first game in four years, following his extensive training routine of touch on Thursday before the game (excellent performance!).

Gareth’s partner in the engine room was none other than the mighty Dom McCarthy, his flamboyant runs and skirmishes, deep into the Knutsford defensive line caused the opposition problems all afternoon.

That was until he pulled his gluteus maximus, which would have sidelined many, but not McCarthy, who pushed on and still managed to dominate the contact area.

The back row of Callum Wright, Jake Robinson and Dempsey (Max not Simon) had a field day in the loose.

Wright was one of the crowd’s favourites, his elusive running and uncompromising tackle technique pipped him to MOM in a close battle with McCarthy.

Robinson at 8, had some powerful runs from the back of the scrum, ably supported by Dempsey (who terrified their 10 all afternoon) setting up some lovely platforms for Nik Smith to feed the ever youthful Rik Hopkin at fly half.

Hopkin, who had his own fan club, was blessed with a back line of U19 players (excepting the wingers!), the all rounder Louis Gray put in a very mature performance in attack, defence and with the boot.

Tommy Cross graced us with us his presence 10 seconds before KO, and showed what an advantage it can be to have a back row playing on the wing!

As the afternoon wore on and the heat took its toll, a figure appeared from the mid September haze.

Surely not, a mere few months from a motorcycle accident that would have finished many off – James Keep.

He parked up his stick, donned his boots and slipped into the backs like he’d never been away.

An ambitious pass made him stretch every sinew in his (medium) body, which he ably took to feed Harry Marchington for yet again the winning score of the afternoon.

All Macc had to do was collect the kick off and send the ball out of play. That was possibly the longest 10 seconds of the half as we watched the ball bobble over the touch line to the sound of the final whistle.

It was another attritional team performance, right to the final seconds. We would like to thank the referee and Knutsford for an entertaining game, played in great spirit with a fantastic fan base.