Macclesfield returned to winning ways in style this weekend running in seven tries and beating Stourbridge 48-24 at Priory Park.

The Blues welcomed back a number of key players that missed last week’s defeat to Tynedale, namely captain Evan Stewart, Matt Owen, Billy Robinson, and Ed Sayce, who all returned to help bolster the Macclesfield pack.

It was the away side that made the brighter start to the game and saw them applying early pressure to the Macc back line.

The pressure paid off five minutes in when Alastair Brassington scored the opening try of the game to give Stourbridge a 5-0 lead.

The try sparked the Blues into life and they began to take the game to the opposition, driving the ball down field.

Excellent work from the forwards gave Macc great position and Stewart carried the ball over the line.

Full-back Ross Winney stepped up to convert from a tight angle, and Macclesfield had a 7-5 lead with just eight minutes played.

The game was full of fast attacking rugby with both sides trading possession in the opening 20 minutes, and a cynical foul conceded by Stourbridge 25 yards from goal gave Winney the chance to further increase Macc’s lead. He took his chance and the score was now 10-5.

The turning point came on the half hour when a two-minute double salvo from Ryan Parkinson gave Macc the advantage. Both tries were converted by Winney and the Blues now led 24-5.

However, the home side weren’t finished there and capitalised on some impressive pressure when scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone picked up the ball 10 yards out and beat two tackles to score a superb individual try. Winney once again converted and the Blues went in at half-time leading 31-5.

Stourbridge emerged determined for the second half and immediately dominated the middle of the park and put intense pressure on the Blues defence.

Their hard work paid off when Ashley Smith touched down to score their second try, Sam Robinson’s extras made the score 31-12.

The visitors now seemed more confident and were taking the game to Macc, sensing a comeback and another try just five minutes later further increased the pressure on the Blues, Robinson once again converted and the score was now 31-19.

The home team responded and put the game beyond Stourbridge on 69 minutes when Stewart claimed his second try of the game and quashed any kind of comeback. Winney was unlucky not to add the extras but Macc still had a healthy 36-19 lead.

Victory was all but secured with two late tries, from Iain Taylor and a fantastic solo effort from Josh Fowles, collecting the ball in his own half and beating a number of tackles to score the seventh try of the game. Winney was only able to convert one of the two and the home team were now out of sight at 48-19.

Stourbridge rallied late on and some impressive handling skills led to a fine consolation try but Macclesfield claimed another maximum-point victory to cement fourth place in National League One.