Macc hit back for triumph over the Bridge

MACCLESFIELD recovered from a slow start to show flair and skill as they defeated Stourbridge in an entertaining encounter.

Stour were 14 points up after 12 minutes through converted scores from Hal Riley and Stefan Thorp.

But the Blues rolled out a brand of rugby that had been lacking all season in the Cheshire sunshine.

The home side scored four first-half tries playing an expansive offloading game.

Stourbridge were reeling after their promising start as Dan Lomax (two), Nick Allsop and Sam Broster all went over and all but one was converted by the departing Lewis Barker to lead 26-21 at half-time.

Macclesfield picked up where they left off, continuing to throw the ball around and cause the Stour backline major problems throughout the period.

Barker scored and converted his own try as the Blues dominated and Lomax completed his hattrick to extend the home side’s lead after 50 minutes.

Any hopes of a Stour comeback were snuffed out as Macclesfield continued to steal lineouts, forced handling errors from the visitors and dealt with the men in pink’s physicality with relative comfort.

Barker kicked three penalties to go 15 points ahead despite a Stour try from George Morgan before Hall finished one of a number of first phase tries off the back of the forwards’ platform, taking the result.