National League Three (N)
Macclesfield 40
Preston Grasshoppers 25
MACCLESFIELD ensured there would be no repeat of their two previous last-minute defeats against the Grasshoppers this season, with a glorious first half show at Priory Park.
But although the Blues won by a fair margin, it was never an easy match, and Preston gave as good as they got.
With the team showing a number of changes, with new recruits Mike Newell and Steve Davidson at fly-half and inside centre, Ben Coulbeck moved to the wing and Gary Bell changing to full-back, it was good to see the Blues run in six tries against a team who came back strongly in the second half.
Macc began with a strong wind in their backs and after repelling an early onslaught from Preston; they gained possession and kicked for the corner. From the ensuing lineout, Jerry Bostock was driven over to open the scoring after only three minutes. Bell missed the conversion.
The Hoppers displayed their mettle and immediately struck back through some strong running from their backs, and after Sengili Tuihalamaka broke through some rather ineffectual tackling, winger Russell Flynn scored out wide to even the score.
For the next 10 minutes or so it was all Preston with the Blues displaying a lacklustre approach, but when the visitors lost scrum-half Charlie Dupre, they lost a little of their shape giving Macc the opportunity to regain some of their composure.
Bostock's day was made when he went over for his second try after good approach work from both forwards and backs on twenty minutes. Bell converted.
In the final 10 minutes of the half, with sin-bins aplenty, Macc took full advantage of their numerical superiority to score two further tries.
The first came from Coulbeck after the ball was moved sweetly through the hands, giving him the opportunity to use his pace down the flank, and the second from flanker Rick Jones who pounced when a scrummage was driven over. With Bell converting both.
Within five minutes of the restart, Simon Baker had made a fine break and the excellent support play resulted in Jones scoring his second under the posts. Bell added the conversion.
Then on 48 minutes, Coulbeck broke clear in his own 22, Bell made further ground before passing to Nick Pearson for another try. Bell once again converted.
Preston refused to lie down and began to gain the greater share of possession and in the final 30 minutes became the better side, running strongly at the Macc defence and displaying excellent mauling technique.
They scored three tries from Stuart Silvester, David Chadwick and Anton Crammant, with Steve Gough converting two.
However, the Blues experience enabled Macc to prevent any further incursions on their line, and they came away as worthy winners.
Macc: S Goodfellow, I Taylor (capt), R Bieniasz, O Hewitt, J Bostock, N Pearson, R Jones, J Keep, A Rice, M Newell, S Baker, S Davidson, T Howcroft, B Coulbeck, G Bell.
Bench: A Vassell, D Taylor, T Kerr, M Smith.
