Macclesfield 19 Fylde 22: report by Simon Taylor [50% of headline intellectual property – Sean Townsend!]
A 73rd minute Lewis Quinn try, nervelessly converted by Will Hunt, secured a narrow victory for Fylde, who preserved their unbeaten start to the season, and spoiled Macclesfield’s 100% start at the same time. Fylde showed great character to overcome missing players, a string of penalties, notably in the scrum, 2 yellow cards to none, and battled into a strong wind to secure the winning score after losing the lead.
Storm Amy was battering the Fylde coast as the squad, minus at least eight regulars through injury, suspension or unavailability, travelled over to the picturesque setting of Priory Park to take on Macclesfield for the first time in 6 years. A strong wind straight down the park was behind Fylde’s back as they kicked off, talisman Dave Fairbrother leading the team again in the absence of Toby Harrison.
Fylde started quickly after Macclesfield had cleared to touch from the kick off. The line-out catch and drive was set up only for hooker Sam Parker to catch the home defence cold by peeling off early and touching down. Danny Cassidy converted and within 2 minutes Fylde were 7-0 up. An early sign of things to come came in the second scrum of the day when Fylde popped up under pressure and conceded a penalty. Macc full back Dan Leake then made their first meaningful break of the day only to knock in the tackle.
The pattern of play for the day was set, as the team playing into the wind, Macc in the first half, sought to keep the ball and work up field, knowing any lost ball would likely be hoofed downfield with the aid of the 40-mph wind. Fylde were at times guilty of being too impatient when they didn’t have the ball, leading to a high penalty count, and Macc’s knock on errors were not being punished as the Fylde scrum was under too much pressure, either having to get ball out very quickly while on the back foot, or conceding penalties. A great turnover penalty by Sam Stott did lead to the chance to stretch the lead on 13 minutes but Cassidy’s attempt drifted wide. The arm wrestle continued until an easier penalty attempt was offered on 27 minutes but once again Cassidy’s radar was off target. To make matters worse, Mike Walton was injured in the lead up to the penalty, and he had to be replaced, youngster Max Senior offered a big chunk of game time to make an impression, which he immediately did with a good line out steal.
Fylde knew a single score was unlikely to be enough playing with the elements and were able to forge further ahead on 30 minutes. A Macc line-out went astray and scrum half Gabe Maguire sniped up to near the Macc line, and with the home defence unable to organise in time, Sam Parker showed his eye for the prize by sneaking over under the posts for his and Fylde’s second try. Will Hunt took over kicking duties and knocked over the conversion to make it 14-0.
Macc, with former Fylde favourite Steve Burnage as Chairman of Rugby are hardworking, disciplined and well organised and they worked up the pitch again and forced a scrum on Fylde’s 22. The initial phases of attack were defended well but Macc stayed patient until left winger Manu Shute found enough of a gap to touch down for an unconverted try on 37 minutes, reward for their hard work into the wind. Fylde’s kick off went dead; they then conceded a scrum penalty and Macc worked into the 22 for a last chance to reduce the deficit before the break. However, line out throwing was difficult in the conditions and another one went astray, meaning Fylde took their 14-5 lead into the break.
The lead looked slender given the conditions, and Fylde knew stout defence and good game management would be needed as they now turned around to play into the wind. However, this game plan went awry immediately when the re-start was knocked on by Fylde and picked up by a player in front, giving Macc a penalty. They kicked this to touch 5 out, set up the catch and drive, and rumbled towards the line. The drive was halted illegally, the referee ran under the posts for the penalty try and was duty bound to dish out the first yellow of the day, Corey Bowker the man picked out. With nearly 40 minutes to defend into the teeth of a gale, Fylde now had only a 14-12 lead and were a man down for 10 minutes.
Fylde knuckled down and worked very hard to repel Macc and keep the ball when they got it. More scrum penalties helped Macc put Fylde under the cosh, but Fylde’s defence held firm with Will Greenwood and Max Senior pinching line-out ball at key pressure points to halt Macc’s flow. Fylde still tried to play their wide game when they could and one neat move on the blind with a couple of chips over the top by Will Hunt caused danger before a knock on ended the move. Macc were booting ball deep when needed but the Fylde back three of Jordan Dorrington, Ben Turner and Leo Gilliland coped with everything well to return from deep and allow their pack to get behind the ball. Young Rob King being the sole prop on the bench had joined the fray before half time and whilst the scrums were difficult, he put himself about as a tireless ball carrier, getting over the gain line consistently and making sure the ball was recycled well.
On 64 minutes Fylde were again reduced to 14 men when Danny Cassidy was sent to the bin for not retreating 10 at a tap and go penalty. Macc set up another line out in the red zone following a further penalty. The line out was defended well but Macc recycled quickly and created just enough space for the other Shute brother on the opposite wing, Samson, and he squeezed in at the corner for the go ahead try. One of the second set of brothers in Macc’s line up, centre Harry Oliver’s excellent touchline conversion made it 19-14, giving Macc the lead for the first time and meaning Fylde would need more than a penalty or drop goal to get anything from the game.
Fylde did not let their heads drop and skipper Dave Fairbrother galvanised his troops for one last effort. The front row with their supporting members in the pack made sure the scrums were solid for the last 10 minutes and Gabe Maguire and the back row harried and hassled the Macc scrum half to force mistakes. Fylde were awarded a penalty for a high shot, secured line out ball and set up shop in Macc’s 22. There followed the most concerted period of Fylde possession your reporter has seen, 15 to 20 phases of players driving closer to the Macc line. King, Fairbrother, Bowker, Ashcroft and Stott were to the fore with repeated carries until the dam broke, Lewis Quinn’s final muscular carry seeing him crash over. 19 apiece would have perhaps been a fair scoreline, but Will Hunt was having none of that and he defied the wind and the angle to slot the game winning conversion beautifully. 6 minutes of nerve-jangling defence followed until one last penalty saw Fylde exit their half for the last time and see out time.
This was a game that could have gone either way, but Fylde will gladly take the excellent away win, their fourth victory on the trot after the opening day draw. They sit 4th on 20 points and having beaten one of the 3 teams with 100% records they have the opportunity to beat the other 2, Sheffield and Tynedale, in their next two home games, with a trip to new boys Scunthorpe sandwiched in between. The attritional nature of the league is already showing so that will be a tough task, Fylde will hope Mike Walton’s injury was not serious. The depth of the squad is being tested and youngsters like Greenwoood, Senior and Sutcliffe are showing they are up for the challenge, ably supported by the established players and veteran evergreens. Macc named Quinn man of the match, but this was very much a team effort, everyone playing their part in a fine win, with skipper Dave Fairbrother leading by example admirably.
Joint head coach Chris Briers said: “This was a difficult game in tough conditions. We got off to a flying start then Macc made things very difficult for us, and we didn’t come away from their 22 with as many points as we could have done. The second half was better in terms of looking after the ball, especially when we kept it for multiple phases to get back in front and then see the game out into a strong wind. The grit and determination of the whole squad showed their character and it was really pleasing to see.”
Fylde: Dorrington J, Turner (Trippier 45/Turner 52), Cassidy, Stott, Gilliland, Hunt, Maguire, Fairbrother (Captain), Ashcroft (Sutcliffe 74), Walton M (Senior 28), Greenwood, Trippier (King 32), Parker, Bowker
Unused subs: Gould, Lanigan
Macclesfield: Leake, Shute S, Blackwell (Keogh 55), Oliver H, Shute I, Attis, Martin, Oliver J, Talbot (Boughey 61), Hughes, Harding, Blackburn, Darlington (Hulbert 50), Longmore (Broadley 52), Hulbert (Smith 28)