By David Wilkinson
It was the worst possible start for the Boys in Blue; a lineout following the kick-off, gave Cinderford the opportunity to catch-and-drive, and they took it, making 15 metres. When it halted they were rock solid to set up what looked like a training ground move, as the ball came out, two players went on a dummy inside line, that turned the shoulders of the Macc defenders, as the Cinderford 12 took the crash-ball, brushing off the first tackler before passing to his number 8 to finish the move off. The visitors were 7 points down without any involvement in the game.
A turgid period of rugby followed, with Cinderford having the majority of the possession, setting up camp firmly in Macclesfield’s half. Phase after phase between the 40 and 22-metre lines, carved up the pitch, with play going from side to side; given the dreich conditions, it wasn’t a bad tactic. The monotony was halted when the Cinderford number 4 took a diagonal (crossing) line in front of the ball carry, which created a gap; one can only assume that the Referee was unsighted, or distracted. The move looked like it had been halted when the track-suited Right Wing (on the left) was tackled and hit the deck, but he got straight back up and managed to finish it off, 14 – 0 after 16 minutes.
James Oliver breaks to set up brother Harry for the third try
Macc were immediately under pressure again following the restart, but when they won a penalty for not releasing, they ran it out from their 30, making 60 metres, it was their first foray into their hosts half, but it didn’t last long. Cinderford were soon back pressing in Macclesfield’s half, with their number 10 tumbling the ball right and left making good ground. After kicking to Macc’s 22, they won the ball back again after the lineout, with a penalty taking them to the 5-metre line on the right. Whilst Macc held the lineout drive, there was no one defending on the blindside, making it easy for the Hooker to nip around to score their third, 19 – 0 after 30 minutes.
What followed was another woeful piece of referring (in my opinion). The restart was knocked on by Cinderford into the hands of the Boys in Blue, with the Referee signalling an advantage. Macc proceeded to go backwards, never getting anywhere near the original infringement, and after several sideways passing phases, knocked it on, into the hands of a Cinderford player, at which point play should have gone back for the scrum. Instead, it was play-on, with Macc giving a penalty away and finding themselves back defending 15 metres out. The ball was spun right to left with the host’s Inside Centre sidestepping Macc’s defence, unmolested, 24 – 0 after 36 minutes.
Macc attack from the lineout
Cinderford’s bonus-point try couldn’t have been simpler, the ball was set up from the restart and whipped out to the Outside Half; Macc’s defensive line had come up as flat as a pancake, inviting a chip over the top. The Outside Centre caught it off the bounce, setting his Left Winger (14) free, who had far too much gas for any would-be tacklers, 29 – 0 after 38 minutes.
There was time for a fifth. Cinderford set up play from the restart 65 metres out, with the cultured boot of Cinderford’s 10 chipping it tantalisingly into the tramlines. Billy Birkett had no option but to slide it out before the on-rushing 14 closed in. The lineout was won on the 22 with a solid drive to follow. The host’s Hooker was in control, breaking blind to feed his Scrum Half for the score, 36 – 0. It had been a dire half of rugby for the Boys in Blue, a lot of soul-searching would be required to stop the rot.
Mason Winterburn clears from the ruck
A high tackle at the restart took play to 20 metres out. The Macclesfield lineout was cleanly taken by Ben Blackburn, with Ollie Longmore peeling around the back. It was a textbook play as Harry Oliver came in on a sharp angle. His pace, strength, and arcing run took him around the defence, scoring in the righthand corner. Harry bagged the extras from wide out, which put Macc on the scoresheet, 36 – 7.
Macc’s second try came as quickly as Cindersford’s fourth. Ben Blackburn caught the restart and charged 60 metres before being brought down. One phase took play to the middle of the pitch, where Mason Winterburn delayed his pass to create a gap for Tom Farrell to run into. Macc’s speedy ten was away, taking an angled line to score, with Harry Oliver getting the extras, 36 – 14.
The hosts caught their restart and were quickly back into their strong rucking game. Macc tried to hack the ball clear from the ruck, when it was still in the deemed area of the ruck, and paid the price. Fortunately, they won the ball back and cleared beyond halfway. Having won the ball at the lineout, Cinderford played some of their most dynamic attacking play, breaking tackles and gaining good ground. When they spun the ball right to left, Macc were short of numbers, and the hosts were clinical, setting up their speedy Left Wing to sprint in to score, 43 – 14.
Macclesfield were solid in the scrum
At the restart, the hosts’ number 8 high-tackled for the third time, resulting in a yellow card. Farrell made good ground with the kick and Macc were back on the attack. They tried the same move from the line out, but Cinderford saw it coming; however, Macc still had all the impetus, with the hosts being forced over their line for a scrum to the Boys in Blue. Without their number 8 Cinderford were hurtling backwards, but the Referee shouted “Use it”, (they don’t seem to like pushover tries anymore). At the second asking, James Oliver picked up at the base to feed brother Harry on a crash ball, 43 – 21.
When Macc got possession they were able to quickly create opportunities, but equally Cinderford’s patience, grinding through the phases, inched their way towards the tryline. It would be another impatient schoolboy error that enabled the hosts to attack from a 5-metre line out. The catch and drive was clinical with their Hooker going over again, 48 – 21.
Following the restart, Macclesfield kept the ball alive, with fluid passing phases, taking the ball to the 22, a high tackle on Farrell, was played on by the Referee. Harry Oliver got his hands on the ball, and after juggling it behind his back, he powered over the line; he was half-tackled in the process, with the tackler then bear hugging him on the ground. It could only be a try, but the Referee and his Assistant said that they couldn’t see the grounding, so didn’t award it. Although Macc were playing with an advantage they were forced into touch at the line out. A scrum to the Boys in Blue got them back on the front foot, and that’s where they stayed; it was now all Macc, phase after phase, twice Harry Oliver was involved, and when he got back up and joined the line the ball was slipped back inside to him. It looked like he was running on empty, but he just had enough in the tank to use his strength to stumble over the line, for his hat-trick, and get the extras, 48 – 28.
It had been a game of two halves, but Cinderford’s had been far too much for Macc to claw back. Macclesfield had been solid in the set piece, and effective in attack, it was the big bit in between. There were too many missed tackles and half-tackles, which enabled Cinderford to maintain momentum for long periods.
On Saturday the Boys in Blue are back at Priory Park against Clifton. It will be another tough encounter against the Bristol side that sits second in the table.
