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Macc fail to convert chances in shock home defeat

25/ 1/2006

Nat League 3 (N)
Macclesfield 21
Tynedale 22

MACCLESFIELD suffered only their second home league defeat of the season at the hands of sixth-placed Tynedale.

A gritty performance by the pack always kept the Blues in the hunt, and when prop Craig Williams touched down late on to put Macc within a point of Tynedale, the home side had a chance to steal the points. But the conversion attempt drifted wide of the posts.

There was a general improvement in the team play, but the backs were again disappointing, and the hosts paid the price for missing opportunities to seal the game in the first half.

Ross Winney, twice, and Beasley traded penalties before an excellent forward drive from the Blues put flanker Tom Street over and Winney converted.

Macclesfield could not take advantage of their numerical superiority after Tynedale had flanker Scott sin-binned, though Winney added his third penalty.

However, the visitors hit back through hooker Small on the stroke of half-time and, after the break, punished some sloppy play when the home side allowed the ball to bounce and Duncan raced over for a converted try. Tynedale's dangerous backs combined again for a superb try for winger Holmes. The successful conversion put the visitors six points ahead with 17 minutes left.

Substitute Williams went over as the Blues came storming back, but with the conversion failing Macc were left empty-handed.

MACCLESFIELD: Palmer, Allen, Bieniasz, Stockdale, Lear, Jones, Keep, Street, Rice, Winney, Knowles, Bartle, Boothroyd, Naylor, Coulbeck. Subs: Williams, Pearson, Watts, Higgins.