Macclesfield are to get their summer preparation under way on Saturday when the top players at Priory Park go up against each other.
The Blues’ internal match (11am) will see between 30 and 40 of the club’s top talent try to make their mark with a place in the first XV up for grabs.
Macclesfield are embarking on a bid to return to the National Leagues following their relegation on the final day of last season and coach Geoff Wappett knows it’s not merely a case of turning up and turning over teams in the division below.
“Essentially we’re looking to win games,” he said. “I know that probably sounds obvious, but that’s what we’re about next season, and that’s what we’ll be concentrating on.
“So that’s our objective and our approach to that will be vital. We have to keep up the pace and intensity of National 1 rugby and apply that at all times.
“We’ve learned to play at that level and we’ve got the players with the experience of playing at that higher level.
“So it’s important to apply what we’ve learned. The very last thing we need to do is let our standards slip and play at the opposition’s pace. It’s all too easily done, so it’s something I’ll be on the lookout for.
“There are high expectations, but it’s important to bear in mind that just because we’ve dropped down a league doesn’t mean we’ll be nailed on contenders for promotion.
“We have to play the type of game we’re comfortable with. If we take our National 1 form into National 2 I’m pretty confident we can be up there towards the top.”
Following the inter-club clash Macclesfield host Burnage next Wednesday evening (7pm) ahead of August 24 and a triangular tournament in which they’ll play Loughborough and Rotherham in one day. They start the season at home to Darlington?Mowden Park on September 7.
