Youngsters kicked off a fine weekend

IT was a great weekend for Macclesfield Rugby Club, starting on Friday evening when the Under 14s hosted Stockport’s Under 14s under the floodlights with several hundred members and parents supporting the youngsters; plus a big crowd of players from the Mini and Junior sections cheering on their team-mates.

The atmosphere was massively encouraging and plenty of very good rugby was on display from both sides. The first game ended 10-19 to Stockport, with their other team also

winning 15-26.

The first team travelled to Alnwick, the most northerly rugby club playing in England, and a difficult four plus hours coach trip. They were joined by a group of 14 of our supporters including president Peter Harper, Chairman Stephen Branch and Secretary Bob Cook, who with their wives, went up to Northumberland for the game and a long weekend. Their support must have made all the difference to our boys, ensuring we snaffled the points winning a close encounter 19-18 in a highly contested game, again played in very difficult conditions.

Head Coach Andy Appleyard commented: “The boys went really well in the first half playing into the conditions, we were disappointed that we missed a few chances near their line.

“We then saw Alnwick really up their game in the second half, although again we weren’t on our best game the boys managed to grind out a win through our persistence to score. Really happy the lads didn’t give up and it’s clear to see that they have learnt to win ugly when needed.”

The win keeps our promotion push very much alive, with the top of the league reading:

Any of these teams can win the league and with Harrogate and Macclesfield having a game in hand it becomes even tighter. Macclesfield have four games at Priory Park and two at home, they are all massively important and will be looking for the Macclesfield faithful to give them an edge.

There was no game for the second team but the third team played away at Bowdon against their second team and won 38-7.

Simon Grant, Team Manager, was delighted with the victory, saying: “We were resoundingly deserving winners of what started out being a testing game up front on a very questionable pitch which definitely favoured their heavier pack of forwards.”

With a 100 per cent record in 2020, the formidable fourths won again, this week gracing the large first team pitch scoring seven tries in a 35-10 win against Bowdon 3rds.

Next week will be a crunch game, away to league leaders Marple 2s who beat the fourth team before Christmas.

This Macclesfield side have their sights firmly fixed on the Cup game in four weeks, away against Preston Grasshoppers.

Even though they are the form team, losses in the first half of the season probably means that promotion out of this division is now not feasible.

Saturday sees another massive game for Macclesfield’s first team against Wirral, after a very narrow win at their place earlier in the season 17-19, nothing will be taken for granted

- come and be the boys 16th man.

Even better book in for our Six Nations Steak and Ale Pie, chips and peas, followed by Cheese and Biscuits, book online: https://www. macclesfieldrufc.co.uk/ event/macc-v-wirral/