Huge win for Macc in a scrap f for safety

STOURBRIDGE M MACCLESFIELD ............ .......... 22 27

MACCLESFIELD took a major step towards safety after securing a 27-22 win over Stourbridge, in what was blisteringly cold playing conditions.

Jack Spencer’s late try through a pick-and-go for Stourbridge set up a tense finish at Priory Park with just 14 minutes remaining, but despite being under pressure late on, Macc held on for the win.

Stourbridge have now won just one of their past six games, as their slump down the table continues.

Macclesfield are now ten points from safety.

Macc started the better of the two sides and their early dominance was rewarded with a try after just two minutes.

Scrum-half Sam Stelmaszek scored with a fantastic break off the scrum. Tom Morton scored the conversion in front of the posts and the home side led 7-0.

Winger Myles Hall thought he’d added to Macc’s lead by scoring a try in the corner, but the pass that picked him out by Peter Board was deemed forward.

The referee came back for a penalty in front of the posts and the decision by Macc was to go for goal. Fly-half Morton dispatched the kick and Macc led 10-0 after just nine minutes.

Stourbridge then spent the next few minutes in Macc’s 22, but the home side got out of trouble by forcing a knock-on.

Captain Morton then strengthened Macclesfield’s lead with two penalties in the first half.

Macclesfield found themselves 17-0 up after just 25 minutes. A lineout deep in Stourbridge territory picked out Tom Burden and he broke through to score. Morton then scored the conversion, to enhance Macc’s lead.

However, Stourbridge then scored the game’s next 15 points.

Macc’s Samuel Moss then broke through the Stourbridge defence to score.

But Stourbridge wouldn’t give up and were right back in the game through Jack Spencer’s try under the posts. Aley scored the conversion and the score became 27-22, with Macclesfield hanging on.