By David Wilkinson
We welcome Luctonians back to Macclesfield, after a break of quite a few years. I have a soft spot for the club, having had a lot of rugby banter with past President ‘Birky’: “Give me your bowtie Thespo.” Sadly he is no longer with us. Now you could say, that what’s said on the rugby pitch, stays on the rugby; but let’s just say that a Luctonian player suggested that we were not good enough for Nat 2, and that we would go straight back down (I can hear this being quoted in the changing room on Saturday). Well, given the thumping that they gave us, 66 – 5, his vision may have been well-founded, But what goes around, often comes around in rugby, 10 years ago we gave Luctonians a thrashing at Mortimer Park, 69 – 10, going on to win promotion to National One rugby.
Luctonians started the season at breakneck speed, winning their first five games and finding themselves at the top of the league. Since then, they have slipped a little, down to 5th place, and their win at home to Devenport Services didn’t look very convincing on paper. That said, Lucs will be coming to Macc determined to do the double over us. It will be another very tough encounter.
Macclesfield are without Ben Blackburn this week, but Head Coach, Rhys Davies, passes over that responsibility to Tom Morton to slot back into his second-row spot. Many of the Macclesfield faithfull were disappointed with his premature retirement, which was evident by his 70-minute performance a few weeks ago. Will Davies starts at 10, and Jack Ellam, on loan from Caldy, joins the bench as a replacement Hooker.
The team is: 1. Dan Percival, 2. Ollie Longmore, 3. Andy Darlington, 4, Rhys Davies 5. Harry Harding, 6. Elliot Alston, 7. Harry Hughes, 8. James Oliver, 9. Mason Winterburn, 10. Will Davies, 11. Jamie Harrison, 12. Harry Oliver, 13. Sam Adu, 14. Billy Birkett, 15. Ray Barrett, 16. Jack Ellam, 17. Simeon Meek, 18. Phil Laing, 19. Danny Martin, 20. Tom Farrell.
