Macclesfield 11 Leicester Lions 11

The elation of the Macclesfield squad & supporters as the final whistle blew just about said it all as they survived the onslaught of a rugged Lions outfit who gave and asked nothing throughout a tense game with so much at stake for the Blues and the two points gained ensured that National League Rugby will be played at Priory Park for a sixth season.

The game began on a bitterly cold spring afternoon with a strong easterly blowing over the pitch and the Lions kicked off with the wind at their backs and they exerted immediate pressure which resulted in their Fly Half William Twelvetrees striking a penalty after just 3 minutes and before Macclesfield had even had any possession.

With a penalty beckoning a Ross Winney drop attempt swung wide but he made no mistake with the following penalty to level the scores after just seven minutes play but Lions had their chances to edge ahead but a penalty went wide.

The Macclesfield pack – lacking several regulars – was under pressure but they held up well and after 19 minutes a powerful forward drive of some 20 metres resulted in pressure on the Leicester line and it was young Sam Moss who finished off the pressure with his first try for the club in what has been a remarkable first season for him at this level. The Winney conversion struck an upright and bounced out (and how many times have I reported that this season!!) but the lead was 8-3 and that is how it remained to the break with both defences on top of their game.

The second half saw Macclesfield kick off with the wind at their backs and an early Winney penalty after a high tackle went adrift with less than a minute played but he was on target with another to increase the lead after nine minutes (11-3).

Twelvetrees responded with a Lions penalty a few minutes later and then the Blues lost Ollie Hewitt to the bin for ten after a technical offence during which time the visitors exerted massive pressure on the Macclesfield line which resulted in a try by No 8 Jeremy Saxon as the seven man Macc pack were pushed over the line. The conversion failed but with fifteen minutes left the game was wide open and all still to play for and both kickers were short with penalty attempts and Lions were perhaps fortunate not to be light for ten when one of their forwards was guilty of dangerous play at a line out but it was clear that the nerves were kicking in – and that was just the supporters – as the game reached its climax especially when an interception saw the Lions race out of defence and with just seconds to go Twelvetrees was short with another penalty in the wind.

At this stage the veteran prop forward – Matt Harding – had come onto the park for the final few minutes of his illustrious Priory Park career to add weight and experience to the pack which performed manfully throughout.

The game ended when Andy Rice kicked the ball into touch to generate scenes of great joy in the Blues camp as their league status was maintained.

Coach – Steve Mannion – understandably happy after the game said, “Players win games, players lose games and Coaches persuade. I dedicate this victory to the work that Andy Rice has done with the squad and I put our survival down to him”

Team: Latham, Moss, Brian, Lear, Bostock, Keane, Mursal & Hewitt. Rice, Winney, Jones C, Hughes, Davenport, Fisher & Chadwick.

Replacements: Harding, Brocklehurst, Jones R, Newell.