Late goal denies Ladies victory
MACCLESFIELD Ladies travelled to the Wirral and returned home with a share of the spoils from their clash at Oxton.
As soon as the whistle blew, it started to rain torrentially, but the conditions didn’t affect their game.
Macc got off to a very good start with their quick passing game and managed to brilliantly defend a number of shots on goal from Oxton.
It wasn’t long before Angela Duffy slotted home a well executed goal from a short corner and put Macc into the lead.
In a game that was plagued with cards and dubious decisions, three players from Macc and two from Oxton had to leave the pitch whilst sin binned.
Unhappy with all the unnecessary time outs, Macclesfield were caught off guard whilst one of their players was off the pitch.
Macclesfied held on to the lead until the last five minutes of the game when Oxton managed to equalise from a short corner.
Ultimately, Macc played a very strong game.
Emma Houghton was awarded man of the match from the opposition and Jess Carroll was players’ player.
ALEXANDER HANNAH
MACCLESFIELD made it eight bonus wins on the bounce thanks to a last gasp-try from number eight Ryan Parkinson.
His score ensured the Blues ran out winners at Priory Park in a tight encounter against newly promoted Sandal.
The home side took a blow before the game when skipper Mike Finnemore pulled up in the warm up and was replaced by Parkinson. Jordan Brookes captained the side on his return from injury.
Sandal boasted the tightest defence in league prior to kick off but they found themselves a man down on 10 minutes after full back Simon Frewin was sent to the bin.
Macclesfield fly-half Lewis Barker gave The Blues the lead from the resulting penalty.
On 16 minutes Macclesfield scored the first try of the game. Securing quick ball from the lineout, Elliot Brierley made the initial line break and found Dave Marwick who offloaded to second row partner Harrison Lewis just short of the line to finish. Lewis Barker added the extras to make it 10-0.
Sandal got themselves off the mark on 32 minutes when fly half Greg Wood took full advantage of the opportunity awarded to him from the kicking tee.
On the stroke of half time Macclesfield extended their lead.
Setting up the driving maul from the lineout and crashing it over, Parkinson was the man to dot down from the back of it, meaning Macclesfield went in at the break with a 15-3 lead.
It continued to be a tight encounter in the second half and it took 17 minutes of play for a try to be scored. Macclesfield made the most of turnover ball and broke quickly down the right flank through Charlie Venables. Elliot Brierley was the man to score the try for his ninth of the season.
Sandal spent large periods of the second half camped in The Blues’ half but stern defence kept the visitors frustrated and at bay.
A fresh Macc front row helped them retake the game by the scruff of the neck as they went in search of the bonus point score.
It finally came with the last play of the match, number eight Parkinson breaking from the back of the scrum and showing a terrific turn of pace to race through and score. Barker again added the extras.
15 O’Regan, 14 Venables, 13 Brierley, 12 Eaton, 11 Mayor (Newton 77), 10 L Barker, 9 Brookes, 8 Parkinson, 7 Smith (Moss 73), 6 F Barker, 5 Lewis, 4 Marwick, 3 Kent (Millar-Mills 40) 2 Moss (Berry 67), 1 Gadd (Mantell 40) Unusued Sub – 19 Mike Finnemore
H Lewis (16), R Parkinson (36, 80), E Brierley (57) L Barker (16, 56, 80) L Barker (11)
1 Elder (L Norbury 62), 2 Heron ( White 78), 3 R Norbury (A Norbury 33), 4 Stewart, 5 Proctor, 6 Maguire, 7 Briscoe, 8 Cotterill, 9 Bedford, 10 Wood, 11 Jackson, 12 Orr, 13 Martin,
MATCH STATS MACCLESFIELD:
TRIES: CON: PEN: SANDAL:
14 Mitchell, 15 Frewin S Frewin, foul play, 10.
293 Dr Jonathan Cook
Max Smith
SIN BIN: ATTENDANCE: REFEREE: STAR MAN: