Rugby Notes from ‘Clubman’
Another week – another win but these sort of games I could do without on the sidelines!! No fingernails left this morning but one can feel a little sympathy for Ionians after a valiant effort to get themselves back into the game after going 12-0 down in the first fifteen minutes. When you are down – like I’s are at present – inevitably things don’t go your way but hopefully the lessons will be learnt by the Macclesfield Squad for this Friday’s Cheshire Cup encounter at Priory Park when Sale Sharks Jets visit in the Semi Final of the Cheshire Cup – see ‘Preview’.
Around Two North the weekend’s results pretty well went to form with Loughborough doing enough to beat Huddersfield at Lockwood Park 15-3 and Caldy just about doing enough thanks to the boot of Richard Vasey to win at Kendal by 15-14. Harrogate moved into fourth with a 22-18 victory at Bradford and Leicester Lions kept up the challenge with a 46-5 trouncing of Westoe. Elsewhere Fylde beat Rugby Lions 12-10 at the Woodlands celebrating 90 years of Fylde Rugby, Hull won at Broadstreet by 22-20 and Hoppers beat bottom club Waterloo 38-17 at Blundellsands to keep them rooted to the basement.
All clubs take a break this coming weekend for County Cups or simply a bit of relaxation following the first 11 games of the campaign – over a third of the season gone already!! Our next league game is a vital one and a Cheshire ‘Derby’ to boot as we visit Caldy in what is certain to be a keenly fought encounter on 28th November.
Around Priory Park the Lions saw off Kendal Seconds by a massive 75-6 score line (and you still wonder why some clubs cannot/will not see sense and sort out a more competitive league structure at this important level with runaway results like this no good for anyone) The Thirds went down 10-0 in a close encounter with Leigh seconds and the Fourths lost 24-0 over at Marple and again, as I write, I do not know the Vets result.
The match programme at Ionians on Saturday followed the history of meetings between the clubs and the first ever encounter at Brantingham Park in February 1997 saw the following Macclesfield side take the field:
McCreery, Crompton D, Oliver, Price-Jones, Crompton K, Burnage & Unwin. Mannion, Taylor D, Harding, Henshall, Bostock, Marshall, Millington & Worthington. Where are they now??
The pre match dinner on 19 December before the Harrogate game is now as good as fully booked so if you have not ordered your place now then you may have to await cancellations. Shows just how good our catering team are and how their reputation is gathering pace. The Stags are also having their Annual Middleton Gathering in the Lounge before this game and that also should be a full house – what an excellent way to begin the Festive Season.
Games for this weekend:
1st v. Sale Jets – Cheshire Cup Semi Final – Friday at 7.45.pm. – Home
2nd v. Fylde 3rd – Raging Bull Cup – Home
3rd v. Fylde 2nd – Raging Bull Cup – Home
4th – Free Week
Vets v. Roundhedians – Away
Junior Colts v. Chester – League – Away – Sunday 12.30.pm.
Preview
Friday 20 November 2009 – Kick Off 7.45.pm.
Macclesfield v. Sale Sharks Jets
Taking a break from league Rugby this Friday the Blues will find themselves up against formidable opposition for this Cheshire Cup Semi Final encounter under lights at Priory Park.
The Jets are the Sale Sharks young professionals known until 1999 as the Manchester Evening News Sale Sharks and they presently play in the Northern Conference with home & away games against the Second strings of Newcastle Falcons, Leeds Carnegie, Leicester Tigers, Worcester Warriors & Northampton Saints plus friendlies against such as Oxford University, Rugby Lions, Doncaster Knights & Saracens.
They have so far beaten Newcastle (36-15) Worcester (34-17) where Poynton based Ed Styles scored a hat trick of tries, but lost out to Leeds (25-8) with ‘friendly’ games against Gogledd Cymru (North Wales rep XV)which was won 33-13 and Oxford University (24-24)
Ex Macc player – Will Cliff – is also a member of this talented squad and although very much a young team – many under 19 – and coached by the experienced Pete Anglesea they will give the Macclesfield squad a serious test for the honour of retaining the Cheshire Cup which was won last April in that close encounter with Birkenhead Park.
The other semi Final – to be played this weekend – sees Birkenhead park face Lymm.
Plenty has been laid on at Priory Park for this game with additional bar outside, a Blues band and ongoing Curry Banquet throughout the evening - all this and Canalside Community Radio broadcasting live from the ground.
All it requires is YOU to be there and support your local Rugby Club.
Be there – I will,
Clubman
