Chinnor  13  Macclesfield  17

After their midweek success at Sale in the Semi Final of the Cheshire Cup when local rivals Stockport were beaten 22-7 the Blues moved through into Round Three of the EDF National Trophy in this close encounter at a bitterly cold Rectory Pavilion.

Both sides showed changes from their normal ‘League’ teams and the game began with a strong North wind blowing across the ground.  Macclesfield kicked off into the Sun but for the first five minutes it was the home side that retained possession and forced the Blues into defence before they got their hands on the ball.  When they eventually gained possession it was Macclesfield’s turn to apply pressure and on 10 minutes the reliable boot of Skipper Ross Winney gave the Blues an early lead with a well struck penalty.

Chinnor ran the ball well at every opportunity but could not break the Macclesfield defence and in an early attack mounted by the Blues the opportunity was lost with a knock on.

However mid way through the half after the Blues won a ball against the head at a scrum it was recycled via a Jon Lowdon break that enabled Flanker – Chris Jones – to be on hand and claim the first try of the game.  Winney’s conversion made it 10-0 but there was no room for complacency as Chinnor ran a quickly taken penalty which saw theire Flanker – Angus Neilson – touch down after 25 minutes and whilst the conversion drifted wide it was the home side who continued to apply pressure and going forward they looked the more dangerous side ball in hand.

Just a minute before the interval the crucial score came when an excellent break by Josh Fowles into the heart of the Chinnor defence was finished off by an equally good run from Rob McDermott who touched down to give Winney the conversion which gave Macclesfield a comfortable 17-5 interval lead.

Chinnor kicked off the second half with the background of a spectacular winter sunset with Red Kites hovering above the Oxfordshire countryside and a penalty from their Full Back – Joseph Robinson – narrowed the lead after just nine minutes.

Macclesfield then applied pressure in the Chinnor half but poor finishing and lost ball spoiled much good work.

Chinnor gradually came back into contention capitalising on some indifferent kicking and ball in hand ran strongly and it came as no surprise when after 24 minutes Angus Neilson scored his second try to throw the game wide open at 17-13 with all to play for and the home side threw all at the Blues but their defence held out and it is Macclesfield who move into the draw for Round Three which is held at Twickenham early this week.

Team: Mulchrone, Lowdon, McDermott R, Hughes Fowles, Winney & Townsend

Devine, Taylor, Latham, Lear, Hewitt, Keep, Jones & Smithson.

Replacements: Robinson, Donaldson, Roddy, Baines, Needham & McDermott G.