Macclesfield head coach Giles Heagerty had plenty of positives to take from this weekend’s defeat to Esher, despite hurting from a game he felt they could have won.

Heagerty felt that his team’s performance was fantastic, but they were the architects of their own downfall as discipline cost them the win.

“Fourteen points came from ill-discipline,” he fumed. “We knew what they were going to do, kick to the corner and catch and drive, and lo and behold that’s what happened two minutes into the first half and five minutes into the second half.

“That was our own doing, take 14 off that scoreline and we win that match. Our discipline is what let us down; we gave 10 penalties away in a match we probably deserved to win.”

“The losing point is massive. We had a bounce and confidence about us, things are starting to click more than they have done so far. We’ve picked up a couple of bumps but we’ve got other bodies to bring in. Dave Marwick warmed up with the team which is good, he’s further along then we thought he would be at this point. Ollie Fewtrell is still to come back in also, and Josh Fowles.

“We have good players to come back in yet.”

Mike Finnemore
 

Heagerty was delighted to welcome back skipper Mike Finnemore into his side for the Esher game, and felt that his captain bought a lot to his team’s performance.

“He leads by example but he really found his voice today, you could tell he had a few weeks off,” he revealed. “He was saying all the right things in the shed before the game and at half-time. It’s just great to have him back in the mix, he brings a bit of edge to us.”

The Blues also welcomed Sam James and Tom Morton into the side on Saturday, two loan signings from Sale Sharks.

The Macc coach felt they both brought very good performances but still expects more from them.

Despite bringing in two professionals, Heagerty was quick to point out that his team’s hopes of survival do not rest solely on these new signings, insisting that everybody has the responsibility to step up for this side.

“James will always bring some class and he did so, and Morton’s performance was very impressive,” continued Heagerty. “He’s a young lad and with Tom Eaton going off injured early on it put a bit of pressure on the shoulders of a young man and he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and gave a really gave a performance.

“Let’s not for a moment say they’re the great white hope.

“They’re not going to come in and carry us to safety, everyone involved in this club has to be responsible for that.”