By David Wilkinson
Hinckley, I think, is another first in our 150 year history, which is not surprising as we venture to all parts of National Two West. The 7-try victory at Priory Park, two weeks ago, and Hinckley’s loss meant that the two sides swapped places in the league, with Macclesfield now on 16 points to Hinckley’s 12.
The squad had a meeting on Tuesday, to review the first block of eight games played. According to Head Coach, Rhys Davies, their commitment individually and as a squad was first class: “The boys were particularly disappointed with their performance against Luctonians, but pleased with the fact that they had scored bonus-points in five of the eight games played.” What they must be disappointed with, is that they have shipped on average 42 points per game. It’s a deficit that they are determined to reduce; as Rhys points out: “You can’t change your skill-sets, but our application needs to improve.”
It is a game Macclesfield will have marked down for a potential away win, and why shouldn’t they? The online pundits favour Hinckley, but although the boys in blue are away, it’s a relatively short drive, and Macclesfield has the momentum in their favour. I note that the Leicestershire team has attracted number 8, Nigel Mukarati, into their fold; many will remember him from when we were playing Stourbridge – which seems to be an exceedingly long time ago!
Macclesfield travel without Ollie Longmore, who has very important Dad duties to perform, back home, with the newly arrived baby Longmore 2! Congratulations Mum and Dad. The squad for Hinkley is: 1.Dan Percival, 2.Carl Droy, 3.Theo Hulbert, 4.Ben Blackburn, 5.Harry Harding, 6.George Boughey, 7.Harry Hughes, 8. James Oliver (Captain), 9.Mason Winterburn, 10.Tom Farrell, 11.Jamie Harrison, 12.Harry Blackwell, 13.Harry Oliver, 14.Sam Adu, 15.Dan Leake, 16.Ted Broadley, 17.Andrew Darlington, 18.Elliot Alston, 19.Billy Birkett, 20.Danny Martin.
