It’s a game where the ‘wannabes’ of both clubs have the opportunity to show what they can do and make no mistake, with local bragging rights at stake, both sides want to win.

Macclesfield, probably more than Wilmslow, field more players either on the fringes of their first team or second and third teamers, hoping to make the breakthrough. They started as though they intended to sweep the home side away in record time. Their scrum soon had the Wilmslow pack in fast retreat, their passing was quick and neat, their runners, no doubt keen to catch their coachs’ eyes, incisive and noticeably they always made ground in the tackle. Their sheer pace and aggression threatened to overwhelm Wilmslow and with a bit more accuracy in the final pass, they would surely have scored more than their two first half tries. At least, three final passes went adrift in the first quarter.

Wilmslow were restricted to defending deeply and kicking hopefully out of their own half whenever they did lay hands on the ball. Nevertheless, whatever coach Rick Jones said at half time, there was much more vigour to their subsequent play and as both sides rang the changes to give everyone some game time, the Wilmslow boys got into the game more and more and to their credit levelled matters at three tries each before conceding in the final play of the game.

It was a good run out for many of Wilmslow’s established first teamers. The evergreen Bob MacCallum was at the heart of everything, taking the lead in exalting his players with encouragement. Ollie McCall looked sharp at full back, pulling off at least one definite try saving tackle, and Ben Day was, well, Ben Day, one moment sublime movement and the next indifferent. Mike Clifford, as you’d expect, stood out in the forward exchanges, James Keys showed what a force he’ll be, if he can stay fit, his powerful surges always crossing the gain line and Adam Hewitt looked as though he’d stoked up the fires in his belly with an abrasive performance. But the one who really caught the eye was the latest from the Barker stable, Nephew of Nob, Nick Barker had returned to the oval ball game at number 9 after a lengthy absence on the soccer pitch. His crisp passing, eye for the gap, the wherewithal to get through it and the variety of his play has the potential to keep opposing defences honest. To this observer, he looked the most complete scrum half since Charlie Mulchrone.

For many of the others, it was probably a step up to a pace and quality, which will take time to adapt to. Cream always rises though. To their credit, nobody threw in the towel and to show the character to fight back to nearly save the game will encourage everyone.

The coaching team has plenty to think about.