MACCLESFIELD 33pts HULL IONIANS 16pts

The Blues began their sixth year in National League rugby in fine style when they entertained Hull Ionians at Priory Park. Under the care of new coaches Geoff Wappett and Andy Northey the team produced a workmanlike performance to defeat the visitors by 33pts to 16pts and get the season off to a winning start.

There were a good number of new faces in the Macc line up, who all gave a good account of themselves and strengthened the squad in some key areas. Man of the match, Alan Marsh in the second row, was particularly impressive, whilst Robert McDermott and Joshua Fowles in the backs always looked dangerous. This was probably as good a start as the Blues have had for many a year, and comments in the Clubhouse reflected that in being very positive.
After the heavy rainfall on Friday the ground proved to be in excellent condition and the game kicked off in bright sunshine. The Blues were immediately onto the attack and this early pressure forced Ionians into conceding a penalty which Captain Ross Winney converted after only three minutes. He added another after nine minutes but from the kick off, the ball was not secured and Hull replied with a penalty from Karl Birch.

The Blues were gaining ascendency in most areas but were caught napping when Ionians scrum half took a quick penalty and ghosted through the Macc defence to then feed Joe Donkin, who was supporting from fullback, to score in the corner, after sixteen minutes.

Macc then took control with a number forays into the Ionians half and after twenty four minutes, Fowles broke clear, but when stopped, the resulting ruck produced quick ball, and some slick handling from the back row put Olli Hewitt in to score. Winney’s conversion put Macc back into the lead they were not to surrender. (13-8).

Winney added two further penalties and Birch replied with one for the visitors but Macc went into the break in a comfortable position.

Winney extended the lead almost immediately after half time with a sweetly struck drop goal on Macc’s first visit into their opponents half. Further pressure from an ever dominant pack resulted in good ball to a back line becoming ever more confident. This proved too much for the Hull defence when slick handling created the overlap for Fowles to cross the line after forty nine minutes. Winney missed a difficult conversion but added another penalty to his tally after fifty three minutes to make their lead unassailable on the day.

Ionians dug into their reserves and fought back to make life uncomfortable for the Blues when Winney was sin binned after sixty two minutes they were quick to take advantage with a try for replacement Graham Hague to close the gap, but he himself was soon sin binned and from the resulting penalty Winney converted to close the scoring.

Team: M Devine, P Allen, B Robinson, I Lear A Marsh, O Hewitt, C Jones, C Smithson, J Walker, R Winney, J Fowles, R Hughes, R McDermott, R Price, F Mulchrone.

Replacements: S Goodfellow, S Moss, N Keane, D Baines, P Macey.