Macclesfield 12 Preston Grasshoppers 26

‘Hoppers will have made the short trip back home up the M6 reflecting on the flattering margin of their victory score in this Priory Park encounter but the Blues will also be reflecting on their lack of clinical finishing in a game that could quite easily have gone the other way.

Preston kicked off on a fine afternoon with a breeze at their backs but it was Macclesfield who made the more promising start to the game running the ball into the Preston 22 where, after 5 minutes, Ross Winney was wide with a kickable penalty.

‘Hoppers responded with a good break which should have resulted in a score but the ball was lost and the game ebbed and flowed although ‘Hoppers were fortunate that a number of offside incidents were not picked up.

The first score of the game came from an excellent Macclesfield attack finished off with a try in the corner by Rueben Harvey who linked in well to touch down. Winney’s conversion went between the uprights and it was 7-0 to the Blues but straight from the kick off a misunderstanding between forwards gave Preston the opportunity to score and their Stand Off – Gerhard Boshoff – made no mistake with the penalty awarded after a Macclesfield player was ruled offside. He converted another minutes later to narrow the scores to 7-6 but it was Macclesfield who should have scored next after a good drive but a player fringed offside and the move broke down.

Winney made a superb break as half time approached but there was no back up for him and the move petered out and it was ‘Hoppers who scored next – despite a blatant offside – when they were awarded a penalty and the immaculate Boshoff took them into a half time lead of 7-9 but they were fortunate to still have 15 on the park after wingman Russell Flynn was seen to use the boot illegally but all that Macc got was a penalty as the half time whistle approached.

Macclesfield kicked off with the breeze but Preston indicated their intent with a flowing move out of their 22 into Macclesfield territory and the move was finished off when wingman Adam Crisp touched down for Boshoff to convert and make it 7-16 to the visitors.

Basics were letting Macclesfield down but they struck back after 15 minutes when Ross Winney – having his best game with ball in hand for the Blues – scored their second try after pressure on the visitors line and some good support play. His conversion went adrift but Boshoff stretched the Preston lead with another penalty after 24 minutes but the Blues should have scored when awarded a penalty in the Preston 22 and opted for a scrum which was turned to give Preston the advantage and from a line out on their own ball Macc lost possession and saw Preston make 70 metres as a result.

A defensive kick did not find touch and the dangerous Crisp fielded the ball to run in his second try which was converted by Boshoff to give him a 100% kicking record for the afternoon and increase Macclesfield’s misery which was compounded in the dying minutes of the game when Lock – Jerry Bostock – received a red card for use of the boot.. Despite another excellent Winney break for Macclesfield it came to no avail and the game was frustratingly lost to leave the supporters wondering just what might have been had chances been taken and discipline been a little better.

The Blues now have a week off before Rugby Lions come to Priory Park on 19^th in another vital encounter as the side seek to move out of the bottom three.

Coach – Steve Mannion – commented after the game, “Whilst I was pleased with certain aspects of our game I was bitterly disappointed that we could not put 80 minutes together. Injuries have taken their toll this week but it was, overall, a more committed performance which we must take into the Rugby Lions game next week”.

Team: Latham, Allen, Collie, Lear, Bostock, Harvey, Hall & Clark. Rice, Winney, Jones, Howcroft, Hughes, Fisher & Macey.

Bench: Moss, Kerr, Newell & Davidson.