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Blues beck to business

10/12/2003

National League Three (N)
Macclesfield 26
Fylde 23

AFTER the downs of last week, Macclesfield upped their game to win an enthralling encounter against Fylde at Priory Park.

An open game produced an exciting finish when full back Ben Coulbeck ran over for a try in the final seconds of extra time. But the contest could have been won earlier had there not been so many unforced errors.

The match began with the Blues playing into a strong breeze and although they tried to open the game up, it was Fylde who dominated the possession for the first five minutes.

However, when Coulbeck came into the line at pace, he took play close to the Fylde line and from the resulting lineout a catch and drive by the Macc pack saw Dave Muckalt score wide out.

The visitors got themselves back into the game with a converted penalty from fly half Mike Scott after 17 minutes.

There then followed a period where both sides threw everything at each other, but good defensive work prevented any scores.

The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes when winger Mark Frost made good ground, then Muckalt created the space to put fellow flanker Rick Jones away to outstrip the Fylde defence and score wide out. Then when Gary Bell added a penalty, the Blues were beginning to look comfortable at 15-3.

But Fylde displayed good character and after the ball was fumbled and from the scrum, centre Carl Long cut through the defence to score a very good try. Scott converted then added another penalty before half time.

The second half began with Fylde creating the pressure and after 45 minutes Scott put them into the lead for the first time with a converted penalty.

Then after a superb 40mtr break from scrum half Andy Rice, it looked as if Macc would surely score, but another knock on saved Fylde.

Neither side were able to establish any dominance due to so many unforced errors being committed, but Macc regained the lead with another Bell penalty after 60 minutes.

Once again, a mistake from the kick off presented possession to Fylde who took full advantage, moved the ball wide, and prop Jon Webster was delighted to be faced with a gap as wide as the M1, and scored a deserved try which Scott converted.

The game continued to be nip and tuck and Macc closed the gap with a penalty after 75 minutes.

As the full time whistle approached, all seemed lost for the home side when Fylde opted to kick for the corner instead of taking a pot at goal. But Macc somehow won the ball and for the next two and a half minutes retained possession and drove their way up field.

Finally they moved the ball for Coulbeck to come into the line, make ground then chip over the defence, gather the ball and outpace the desperate defenders and score the winning try, to the delight of the home support.

Macc: Goodfellow, Allen, Bieniasz, Hewitt, Bostock, Muckalt, Jones, Keep, Rice, Bell, Frost, Howcroft, Lawton, Campbell, Coulbeck. Subs : Taylor, Ellis, McLean, Browning.