Macclesfield 48 Stourbridge 24

Macclesfield returned to winning ways in style this weekend running in six tries and beating Stourbridge 48-24 at Priory Park in National League One.

The Blues welcomed back a number of key players that missed last week’s defeat to Tynedale, Captain Evan Stewart, Matt Owen, Billy Robinson, and Ed Sayce all returned to help bolster the Macclesfield pack.

It was the away side that made the brighter start to the game and saw them applying early pressure to the Macclesfield back line. The pressure paid off when Alastair Brassington scored the opening try of the game after just five minutes to the Stourbridge a 5-0 lead.

The try sparked the Blues into life and they began to take the game to the opposition driving the ball down field. Excellent work from the forwards gave Macclesfield great position and Captain Stewart carried the ball over the line. Full back Ross Winney stepped up to convert from a tight angle, Macclesfield had a 7-5 lead with just eight minutes played.

The game was full of fast attacking rugby with both sides trading possession in the opening twenty minutes, and a cynical foul concede by Stourbridge just 25 yards from goal gave Winney the chance to further increase Macclesfield’s lead, he took his chance and the score was now 10-5.

The turning point came on the half hour when a two-minute double salvo from Ryan Parkinson gave Macclesfield the advantage. Winney converted both of the tries, and the Blues now lead 24-5, though the home side weren’t finished there and capitalised on some impressive pressure when scrum half Charlie Mulchrone picked up the ball ten yards out and beat two tackles to score a superb individual try. Winney once again converted and the Blues went in at half time leading 31-5.

Stourbridge emerged for the second half and immediately took the game to Macclesfield, dominating the middle of the park and putting intense pressure on the Blues defence. Their hard work paid off when Ashley Smith touched the ball down to score their second try of the game. Sam Robinson added the extras and the away side trailed 31-12.

The visitors now seemed more confident and were taking the game to Macclesfield, sensing a comeback Stourbridge scored another try just five minutes later to further increase the pressure on the Blues, Robinson once again converted and the score was now 31-19.

The home team responded and put the game beyond Stourbridge on 69 minutes when Stewart claimed his second try of the game and quashed any kind of comeback. Winney was unlucky not to add the extra two points but Macclesfield still had a healthy 36-19 lead.

Victory was all but secured with two late tries from Iain Taylor and a fantastic solo effort from Josh Fowles, collecting the ball in his own half and beating a number of tackles to score the Blues seventh try of the game. Winney was only able to convert one of the two and the home team was now out of sight at 48-19.