Macclesfield Colts surrendered the lead in a disappointing defeat to Southport. The Blues let Southport back into the match in the second half, having turned round at the break two points ahead. With no substitutes, the Blues played periods of the game with a man down. This combined with the opposition’s extra desire to get a result, led to the Colts chasing the game with little time left on the clock.
Ollie M opened the scoring for the Blues, breaking outside the opposition winger on the twenty two, and running under the posts for the score. A few plays later, Ollie hacked through a loose ball into the in- goal area and looked to have scored again, but the referee ruled the ball was not grounded properly before it went dead. Quick rucking created two further overlaps, but the backline couldn’t convert the chances.
Tactical kicking by Tom and Ollie put the Blues into attaching positions on the edge of the oppositions twenty two, but lateral running failed to make the most of the opportunities created. Doug eventually scored the Blues second try after Lewis had stolen the ball at a lineout. Doug picked up from the back of the ruck and was driven over for the score. Harry pulled off a try saving tackle on the Southport flanker to temporarily keep out the opposition, but the number 7 broke through the Blues defence a few minutes later to give the opposition the lead. With only a few minutes left on the clock, the Blues couldn’t maintain any field position to put the opposition under any pressure to snatch back the win.
Squad: (1) Ben Hadfield (2) Scott Greenway (3) Joe Stubbs (4) Lewis Pierce (5) Doug Swallow (6) Matt Price (7) Sam Black (8) George Hodkinson (9) Harry Grant (10) Tom Leicester (11) Mike Green (12) Aled Williams (13) Callum Davies (14) Ollie Muir (15) Ollie Aston
First Half
Macclesfield Colts:
Try: Ollie Muir (14) – 11m, Conversion: Ollie Aston (15)
Southport:
Try: (13) – 39m
Second Half
Macclesfield Colts:
Try: Doug Swallow (5) – 22m
Southport:
Try: (7) – 2m, Try: (7) – 33m
