After losing to Ealing last weekend, Macclesfield Blues remain rooted to the foot of National League 1, knowing that they’re facing an almost-impossible task if they want to retain their league status. There are 6 games to go and the Blues will need to win all 6 with bonus points to escape the drop. Can they do it? Well, Head Coach, Giles Heagerty, certainly believes they can. He’s confident that there’s sufficient strength, depth and talent in the squad to turn the situation around. Are they likely to defy the odds and beat the drop? Well, the jury’s still out on that. All Macclesfield Blues can do is concentrate on their own performances, and hope that for once this season Lady Fortune will start to shine her light on them.
Here’s what Giles had to say when he spoke to Macclesfield Rugby earlier this week.
With 6 games remaining and a maximum 30 points on offer, will Macclesfield Blues realistically have to win every game to survive in National League 1?
“Probably. It’s certainly possible. In sport they say that you make your own luck. It might be a bit of a cliché, but there’s a certain element of truth in it. We’ve unfortunately not had the bounce of the ball for the majority of this season, so we’re due for some. Will our fortunes change over the remaining 6 games? Honestly, I don’t know.”
“All I’m focused on now are the positives. We’ve managed to get through the last 4 weeks without any serious injuries, and that’s definitely a positive. I know we’ve lost Shane for 6 months, but relatively speaking we have been lucky. Our performances against some of the top teams recently have been positive too, and that has given us good heart. All I can say is that our destiny is in our own hands – or at least I hope it is. If we get a couple of decisions going our way for a change, unlike last Saturday against Ealing, things may improve.”
“Can I sit here and say honestly that we’re going to win all 6 games? Well, no – obviously. If I could predict that sort of thing I’d be a rich man. Can I sit here and say we’ll give everything and go all out to win the remaining games Yes, I definitely can.”
What are you expecting from Loughborough?
“We’re expecting a tough match, just like we had when we travelled down there. We managed to get our first win there after what was one hell of a game. It was proper game of rugby with the fortunes of both teams ebbing and flowing throughout the game. It was everything you’d want from a game. Loughborough have had their bumps along the way, particularly prior to Christmas, but they seem to have got themselves into decent shape.”
“The pitches are hardening up now, and I think that will suit their game as they’re a very good running rugby side. What’s more, in Henry Taylor, they’ve got a really special scrum half. He definitely makes Loughborough tick, so we’re really going to have to be on our mettle on the day. It’s dangerous to underestimate any side in this league, but I think if you underestimate Loughborough Students you do so at your peril. We know what’s coming. We know they’ll be physical and, with George Shutter on their coaching staff, you know they’ll also be well-drilled up front. If we can manage our own game on the day then I think we’ll be in a decent position to get a result.”
Will be keeping one eye on the Tynedale, Cinderford and Old Albanians’ results over the coming weeks?
“No. I’ve absolutely no interest in their results. We can’t control what happens to other teams, so there’s no point wasting time thinking about them. The only control we can have over them is in the head-to-head games coming up later this season. What we have to do is focus purely on our own performance. If you want to get results then you have to put in a great performance. That’s been the focus throughout the season, and nothing will change. If we can control our own performance then we’ll have to see what happens when the dust settles.”
