Macclesfield Senior Colts got back to winning ways in their first outing of 2014, out-scoring Glossop two tries to one in a tight 12-7 victory. New recruit Josh Hobson opened the scoring for the Blues on the half hour with a powerful straight run after the backs had exploited some space on the left wing. George Hodkinson sealed the win late in the second half, finding his way over the line after a lineout catch and drive from five metres out. Fellow back rower Sam Black impressed the most, putting in an 70 minute defensive stint, and taking every opportunity to move the ball forward, catching the eye for his Man of the Match performance.
The Blues opted to play with the wind in the first half on a very heavy pitch, consequently they took their time to gain some rhythm as conditions weren’t conducive to running rugby. The elements prevented Glossop from clearing their lines, spending most of the half pinned back in their twenty two by Ollie’s kicking. Fierce counter rucking by the opposition frustrated any gains that Macclesfield had made until the last five minutes of the first period. Sam Bancroft made the initial foray through the Glossop defence. The ball was recycled to Tom Leicester who picked out Josh outside him. Josh straightened up then bust through tackles to stretch over the line for the score. Ollie slotted the tricky conversion. Glossop broke out of their half for the last play, only for Smiler to wrap up the ball in a maul to win possession back.
The second half was keenly contested, with much of the play between the two twenty twos. The Blues improved on the first half rucking performance becoming more competitive at the breakdown, not allowing Glossop to use the wind to their advantage. Again, it was on the half hour before Macclesfield could break through the Glossop defence. Will dinked a kick to the corner, which Glossop had to take into touch. The first successful catch and drive of the day came from the lineout, Dan secured the ball, then the pack drove it over the line for George to ground the ball for the try. Josh and Lloyd nearly broke through down the left wing after some powerful running and handy offloads. Glossop were awarded a penalty try in the last minutes of the half, but Macc managed to control the possession enough to slide it into touch to end the game shortly after the restart.
Team: (1) Thomas Healey (2) Scott Greenway (3) Sean Hammond (4) Dan Sutton (5) Dan Goltman (6) George Hodkinson (7) Sam Black (8) James Brocklehurst (9) Harry Grant (10) Tom Leicester (11) Sam Bancroft (12) Josh Hobson (13) Joe Wedgbury (14) Lloyd Smith Coates (15) Ollie Aston (16) Jack Pearce (17) Will Gregory
First Half
Macclesfield Colts: Try: Josh Hobson (12) – 31m, Conversion: Ollie Aston (15)
Second Half
Macclesfield Colts: Try: George Hodkinson (6) – 30m,
Glossop: Penalty Try: – 34m, Conversion: (10)
