Bateman BMW Premiership

Scoreline Flatters Macclesfield

Fielding three teams on Saturday stretched the playing resources for New Brighton so our thanks to Danny Baxter who guested for the 2's at prop.

Against a heavier and well organised pack, New Brighton were always going to have problems but they kept in contention with the score at 22 - 10 until the final minutes when Macclesfield increased the gap with two pushover tries.

New Brighton defended in their own half for the whole of the first quarter. An unconverted try by the left wing got Macclesfield off the mark after 4 minutes. The same player came close soon afterwards but was stopped by a great try saving tackle by Danny Hayes. Macclesfield increased the lead to 8 points with a drop goal before New Brighton were able to threaten the home line. From close in Craig Smithson, Mike Smith and Jim Yarranton all came close but a long penalty put the Blues back in their own half. On 25 minutes the weight of the Macclesfield pack was irresistable as they trundled the ball over from a set piece with the conversion leaving the Blues trailing by 15 points to nil.

The Blues pressed hard during the second quarter with the only reward a Jim Yarranton penalty towards the end of the half for an interval score of 15 - 3 to Macclesfield.

The Blues persistance paid off early in the second half with a Mike Smith try converted by Jim Jarranton but Macclesfield now fully aware of their overwhelming strength in the pack used the forwards to great effect. A rolling maul brought another converted try and the two tries in the final minutes gave Macclesfield a comfortable if flattering margin

Team Sheet: 1. Craig Smithson, 2. Adam Whatling, 3. Danny Baxter, 4. Ben Lazenby, 5.Sean Williams, 6. GED Buckley, 7. Kieth Kirkham, 8. Paul Roberts, 9. Mike Smith, 10. Jim Yarranton, 11. Gavin Byrom, 12.Lewis Mullen , 13. Mark Trevitt, 14. Danny Hayes, 15. Barry Rylands.