Macclesfield maintained their play-off position with a hard-fought 36–28 victory away at Billingham on Saturday, showing immense resilience to overturn a second-half deficit and claim a crucial five-point win.
In a contest that swung back and forth throughout, the Blues were forced to dig deep after trailing from just before half-time until the closing stages, eventually sealing the win with two late tries and a penalty in a dramatic final ten minutes.
Macclesfield started brightly, crossing early through Samson Shute in the fifth minute following a strong attacking platform. Harry Oliver added the conversion to give the visitors an early 7–0 lead. Billingham responded quickly, however, with tries from Joseph Pickering and Harry Mayes, the latter converted by Luke Wilson, to edge the hosts in front.
Danny Martin’s try on 28 minutes restored Macclesfield’s lead, again converted by Oliver, but a late Wilson penalty gave Billingham a 15–14 advantage at the break.
The second half proved a stern test. Billingham extended their lead with tries from Jonathan Horner and Luke Wilson, along with a further Wilson penalty, to open up a nine-point cushion midway through the half. Despite enjoying long periods of scrum dominance, Macclesfield struggled with discipline, conceding a high penalty count, while handling errors and missed tackles at key moments allowed Billingham to capitalise.
True to form, the Blues refused to go away. James Oliver’s try on 57 minutes reignited the comeback before Ben Blackburn crossed in the 70th minute, Harry Oliver again converting to close the gap to just two points.
With momentum firmly on their side, Macclesfield struck the decisive blow in the 76th minute when Harry Blackwell powered over for a crucial try. Oliver’s conversion put daylight between the sides before he calmly slotted a late penalty to secure the win and the bonus point.
Speaking after the match, Director of Rugby Matt Coleridge praised his side’s composure and mentality:
“It was a very hard-fought game, and as Rhys Davies and I said after the game, we have to remind ourselves that we have set new standards for ourselves this season. We expect to win against mid-table teams, but it’s a lot easier said than done, especially coming here to Billingham with such a physical side and a great crowd.
I’m proud of the boys for keeping their composure late on and finding a way to win on a day where we weren’t totally at the races. Our execution wasn’t perfect and our defence was a bit wobbly at times, but after last week’s loss we had to get back on the horse, get five points, and that’s exactly what we did.”
The victory keeps Macclesfield second in the league standings and underlines the squad’s ability to grind out results even when not at their fluent best.
Our next HOME Fixture….
Chairman’s Lunch – Macc vs Scunthorpe
Saturday 28th February 2026
Our next home fixture is a special one, as Macclesfield RUFC host our Chairman’s Lunch ahead of a clash with Scunthorpe, a match where every point could prove vital.
Hosted by our Chairman, the lunch will feature a special guest speaker, John Inverdale, Chairman of National Leagues Rugby and former BBC Sport broadcaster, promising insight, stories, and plenty of banter before kick-off.
Event Details
Meet: 12:00pm
Kick-off: 3:00pm
£20 + match entry
(Usual member discounts and season ticket benefits apply to entry costs.)
This promises to be a fantastic afternoon of rugby hospitality, great food, and expert insight, followed by a big game at Priory Park. Places are limited, so early booking is advised.
Book now:
https://www.macclesfieldrufc.co.uk/event/chairmans-lunch-macc-v-scunthorpe/
