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Sat 12 Dec 2009 · National League 2 North
1st XVMacclesfield
28
33
Westoe 28 Macclesfield 38
Phil Haswell14 Dec 2009 - 15:52
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WESTOE were beaten by well-drilled opponents but emerged from this bruising contest with credit.
Indeed, director of rugby Andy Howells declared: “We have played worse than this and won.”
Macclesfield, second top of National 2 North, were certainly the best side to come to Wood Terrace so far this season and thoroughly deserved their victory.Their tactics were founded on a strong and disciplined pack who gave an object lesson in pick and drive methods which, if somewhat one-dimensional, were mightily effective.
And their cause was given a substantial boost by fly half Ross Winney who converted all of his team’s five tries as well as being on target with the only within-range penalty they were awarded.
The visitors’ kicking from the hand was also superior and it was a sliced clearance that enabled the Cheshire men to score their fourth try, and the only one that did not emanate from forward brawn, Winney having room aplenty to make a good cross-field break before passing to centre Richard Hughes to score.
Yet Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe’s flair and spirit could not be suppressed as again and again they fought their way back into contention.
And they provided by far most of the best open play moments and thoroughly deserved to gain a bonus point with a fourth try in the very last play of the game, the ninth time they have done so in the 14 games so far.
They started brightly, centre David Haswell, making a return after a long term elbow injury, being brought down just short of the line in the very first minute and pressure yielding two penalties, one of which fly half Charlie Rayner converted.
But then the Macclesfield pack moved into gear with remorseless mauls that brought two tries within four minutes, the ball spinning out to full back Rob McDermott to touch down from close range and then for hooker Sam Moss to be driven over.
When Winney kicked a penalty to make it 17-3 at the end of the first quarter things looked really grim, but Gareth Nesbit’s men came fighting back with some robust forward play of their own, forcing another Rayner penalty strike.
Then just before the interval flanker Aaron Myers pouched the ball splendidly under pressure to set away the backs, a clever grubber kick by centre James Clark being picked up by winger James Walker who sped over in the left corner.
The second half again found the home team defending desperately, and often effectively, against sustained pack power, but when number 8 Evan Stewart burst over it began a curious sequence in which both sides scored alternatively three times.
Westoe’s replacement lock Iain Robinson was driven over from a penalty lineout after which came Hughes’s try, which in turn was followed by the best of the game when winger Peter Phelan broke though three tackles in a 35 metre spurt along the right flank.
When flanker Chris Jones scored from yet another drive in the 71st minute it pretty well settled matters, though, as the final seconds ticked away, another penalty lineout close in ended with Phelan collecting a second try and his side the bonus point.
Said Howells: “We will have learned a lot from this game. Macclesfield were a very well-drilled side and we had to dig more deeply than we have done before, at times resisting attacks of up to 15 phases.
“I was impressed by how well we battled and our line breaking was better than theirs. There were a lot of plusses and we can go forward from here.”
*The Seconds, trailing 18-17 with just nine minutes to go in the Candy League clash at West Hartlepool, came storming back to grab victory with two tries.
First, winger John Irvine charged down a kick and raced 50 metres to score and then winger Chris Laycock put the finish touch to a well executed move across the backs to make it 27-17.
Earlier there had been tries by number 8 Graeme Smith, lock John Younghusband and replacement full back Michael Booth with Grant Parking kicking a conversion.
*The Fourths, with enterprise in the backs and something of a makeshift pack being inspired by experienced flanker Richie Schofield, beat hosts Sunderland 29-16. Tries were scored by winger Sam Hughes, number 8 Graham Aldus (two each) and centre Chris Bedford, fly half Colin Gillespie converting twice.
Macclesfield, second top of National 2 North, were certainly the best side to come to Wood Terrace so far this season and thoroughly deserved their victory.Their tactics were founded on a strong and disciplined pack who gave an object lesson in pick and drive methods which, if somewhat one-dimensional, were mightily effective.
And their cause was given a substantial boost by fly half Ross Winney who converted all of his team’s five tries as well as being on target with the only within-range penalty they were awarded.
The visitors’ kicking from the hand was also superior and it was a sliced clearance that enabled the Cheshire men to score their fourth try, and the only one that did not emanate from forward brawn, Winney having room aplenty to make a good cross-field break before passing to centre Richard Hughes to score.
Yet Dunes Adventure Island-sponsored Westoe’s flair and spirit could not be suppressed as again and again they fought their way back into contention.
And they provided by far most of the best open play moments and thoroughly deserved to gain a bonus point with a fourth try in the very last play of the game, the ninth time they have done so in the 14 games so far.
They started brightly, centre David Haswell, making a return after a long term elbow injury, being brought down just short of the line in the very first minute and pressure yielding two penalties, one of which fly half Charlie Rayner converted.
But then the Macclesfield pack moved into gear with remorseless mauls that brought two tries within four minutes, the ball spinning out to full back Rob McDermott to touch down from close range and then for hooker Sam Moss to be driven over.
When Winney kicked a penalty to make it 17-3 at the end of the first quarter things looked really grim, but Gareth Nesbit’s men came fighting back with some robust forward play of their own, forcing another Rayner penalty strike.
Then just before the interval flanker Aaron Myers pouched the ball splendidly under pressure to set away the backs, a clever grubber kick by centre James Clark being picked up by winger James Walker who sped over in the left corner.
The second half again found the home team defending desperately, and often effectively, against sustained pack power, but when number 8 Evan Stewart burst over it began a curious sequence in which both sides scored alternatively three times.
Westoe’s replacement lock Iain Robinson was driven over from a penalty lineout after which came Hughes’s try, which in turn was followed by the best of the game when winger Peter Phelan broke though three tackles in a 35 metre spurt along the right flank.
When flanker Chris Jones scored from yet another drive in the 71st minute it pretty well settled matters, though, as the final seconds ticked away, another penalty lineout close in ended with Phelan collecting a second try and his side the bonus point.
Said Howells: “We will have learned a lot from this game. Macclesfield were a very well-drilled side and we had to dig more deeply than we have done before, at times resisting attacks of up to 15 phases.
“I was impressed by how well we battled and our line breaking was better than theirs. There were a lot of plusses and we can go forward from here.”
*The Seconds, trailing 18-17 with just nine minutes to go in the Candy League clash at West Hartlepool, came storming back to grab victory with two tries.
First, winger John Irvine charged down a kick and raced 50 metres to score and then winger Chris Laycock put the finish touch to a well executed move across the backs to make it 27-17.
Earlier there had been tries by number 8 Graeme Smith, lock John Younghusband and replacement full back Michael Booth with Grant Parking kicking a conversion.
*The Fourths, with enterprise in the backs and something of a makeshift pack being inspired by experienced flanker Richie Schofield, beat hosts Sunderland 29-16. Tries were scored by winger Sam Hughes, number 8 Graham Aldus (two each) and centre Chris Bedford, fly half Colin Gillespie converting twice.
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