Macclesfield 22 Loughborough Students 35

Five tries proved enough to ensure that Loughborough Students came away from Priory Park with a crucial five points to pull them away from the drop, while consigning Macclesfield to relegation.

The loss, Macc’s 22nd in 24 games this season, confirmed that they’ll be playing their rugby in National League Two North next term.

Despite being level at half-time the Blues struggled to cope with a fast paced Loughborough side in the second half.

The Students got the first try of the game, soon after going behind to a Tom Eaton penalty. England Under-20 World Cup winner Henry Taylor created space around the fringe and put fly-half Josh Sharp into space to dive in for the try.

On 12 minutes Rhys Owen extended the visitors’ lead, as a long spell on the Blues try line paid off and the Students worked the opening to get over the whitewash.

After repeated infringements as they defended stoutly, Dave Marwick was sent to the bin for Macclesfield on 18 minutes and Loughborough took advantage.

From the resulting line out they barged their way over the line, Adam Peters with the try to take the score to 15-3.

With Marwick (above) back on the field, the Students were reduced to 14 themselves, with debutant Riccardo Brugnara given an enforced break for a late tackle.

Shortly after, the Blues got back into the game, a dominant scrum resulting in Liam Parfitt diving over the line for his first try for the club since joining on loan from Sale Sharks.

That try brought Macclesfield to within seven points and they pulled themselves level with a converted try shortly before the break.

Once again built from a dominant scrum, winger Josh Fowles came off his flank to receive the ball from Eaton and finished superbly. He went in under the posts, and the conversion made it 15-15 at half-time.

Macclesfield came out after the break and dominated possession and territory. That was until fly-half Sam James and prop Marshall Gadd both went down injured.

These two blows hurt the Blues and shifted the momentum in the match.

Loughborough took full advantage of the Macclesfield reshuffle as Owen dived over for his second try. The conversion, and a penalty shortly after, opened up a 10-point lead for the visitors.

On 72 minutes Taylor capped his very impressive performance when he spotted a gap around the fringe and touched down underneath the posts.

Ollie Williams then added another penalty and the lead was 20.

Two minutes remained when Matt King crossed for the Blues to at least give them hope of snatching a late bonus point, but it was to prove only a consolation as Loughborough held out and came away with the spoils, 35-22 the final score.