Macclesfield wanted the game at 3.00 because they have organised a big Xmas lunch. But quite a few of our lads had assumed it was the usual 2.15 kick off, demanded by the league secretary, and had arranged to scoot back to Hartlepool for Xmas do's.
So the unusual kick off time is a compromise worked out with with Alan Johnson, the Macclesfield Secretary. Incidentally he is also the hard working league secretary who normally insists that all games kick off at 2.15. [Alan mate you wouldn't if you had been at Brinkburn last week!
Macclesfield shipped 50 points at an in-form Darlington last week. But sources say they are unhappy with our least favourite referee Ged Stone. He sent off their hooker for what Macc felt was nothing. The hooker's brother came on as front row replacement and was immediately also sin binned apparently for going over when, in fact, Macc say he had been barged in the back by a Darlington forward. Darlo took advantage and scored two tries and romped away with the game.
It all means that our hosts have slipped fown the league from their highest position of second and will want to get back on track.
We put up a reasonable show against them at home but if we play like we did last week we will give them a closer game. Which West side will we see?
West: Hodgson, Barff, Connolly, Milne, Thomas, Stabler, Tighe, Painter [capt], Cullinane, Robinson, Davies, White, Rudd, Tones, Sawyer.
Reps: Bennett, Dono, Baggs.