Rugby Union
Fylde 20
Macclesfield 5
National League Three (N)

AN under-strength Macclesfield side lost the season opener at Fylde despite dominating the game for long periods.

The Blues were without the normal powerhouse second row pairing of Ian Lear and Jerry Bostock, and the goal kicking Gary Bell, but should still have come away from the Fylde coast with a victory.

Coach Steve Rule said after the game: "I am disappointed with the result after being in command for much of the game. The team were unable to convert pressure into points and were perhaps a little naïve at times."

Early mistakes from Fylde gave the Blues the opportunity to attack but they took the wrong option and the home defence held out.

Then with Fylde gaining and retaining possession, Macc were put under pressure and Fylde scored a converted try after nine minutes. A penalty put the Blues within five metres but the chance was not taken, and again some minutes later a penalty attempt was missed from in front of the posts after 18 minutes.

The game swung from end to end with neither side taking full advantage, but when hooker Pete Allen made an excellent break Macc should have scored, but they infringed at the scrummage under the posts.

As the half drew to a close, the Blues once again infringed when in a good position and Fylde came close after breaking out from their own 22, but the scores remained the same.

The second half began with Macc losing winger Mike Burgess with hamstring trouble then giving away a penalty, which put them 10 points adrift. But the Blues struck back immediately with a catch from Dave Muckalt and a drive which put prop Scott Goodfellow in for a try.

At this stage it looked as though Macc would get the better of Fylde, but the home side's stubborn defence held firm and they broke clear against the run of play. Despite Dave Muckalt's best efforts to dive on the ball, a try was awarded. 17-5. Fylde soon increased their lead with another penalty.

With Muckalt in the sin bin, Macc then lost scrum-half Simon Johnson with a badly dislocated shoulder to make life very difficult in the last 15 minutes.

They stuck to their task and still attacked but were unable to unravel the home team's defence to save a frustrating afternoon.

MACC: S Goodfellow, P Allen, R Bieniasz, D Muckalt, O Hewitt, N Pearson, J keep, R Jones, S Johnson, M Newell, M Frost, P Macey, P Bartle, M Burgess, Ben Coulbeck. Bench: P Clarke, M Palmer, A Donaldson, G Browning.