Macclesfield beat spirited Tynedale to extend lead

Ryan Parkinson scored a hat-trick as league leaders Macclesfield edged a 33-26 victory over Tynedale at Priory Park.

Parkinson’s first try helped Macclesfield take a 7-0 lead and that was swiftly followed by scores from Elliot Brierley and David Marwick to put the Blues in control after 26 minutes.

But the home side’s intensity dropped in the final 10 minutes of the half and Tynedale capitalised as Stuart Johnson showed clever footwork to score under the sticks.

After the break, Tyne continued to look the better side and were rewarded when Benjamin Haigh dotted down from close range and suddenly the north-east side were right back in the contest.

However, a yellow card to William Miller halted Tynedale’s progress which allowed Macclesfield to kill off the contest as Parkinson scored a quick fire brace to complete his hat-trick.

Tyne’s spirit wasn’t dead and buried though, as they rallied in the final 10 minutes of the game to score two more tries through Oliver Walker and Haigh again to save two late and well deserved bonus points.

Macclesfield’s win moves them 15 points clear at the top of National Two North after Sedgley Park’s match with Sandal was postponed and Stourbridge lost at home to Leicester Lions. As for Tynedale, despite the two points, they dropped down to 12^th after Sale FC’s win over Otley.

The encounter saw the start of Scott Lawson’s reign as Tynedale Head of Rugby as former coach Andy Buist left the club after accepting a job abroad while Macclesfield were playing their first home game of 2016.

Both the teams showed up well in the contest with Tyne showing great fluency in the first 10 minutes in Cheshire before Macclesfield took control.

Tynedale had nothing to show for their early pressure and they were punished by Macclesfield as Parkinson barged his way over from a rolling maul in what was the hosts’ first real chance of the game.

Brierley scored Macc’s second try straight from the restart as he glided past the Tynedale defence to touch down after great handling from winger Rhodri Mayor before Giles Heagerty’s men used their power up front once again as Marwick stretched the Blues’ lead.

It looked as though Macclesfield were heading into the second period without conceding, but from nowhere, the ball fell kindly for Johnson who crossed to give Tynedale a boost going into the break.

And Tyne looked to be right back in the game within seven minutes of the restart as Haigh finished off a relentless spell of pressure after Johnson had started the move from just inside the Macc half.

However, Miller’s yellow card handed the momentum back to Macclesfield as Parkinson rounded off a sensational try as he combined with Michael Finnemore to secure the bonus-point for the home side.

And with Tyne still down to 14 players, Parkinson notched up his third try as he touched down from the back of the ruck to give Macc a 33-14 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

But Tynedale weren’t done just yet as Walker’s try on 73 minutes gave the visitors a four try bonus-point and opened up the opportunity for them to chase a second extra point which they managed to achieve as Haigh scored his second try of the day to send Tynedale back up the A1 with a well-earned two points.

National Two North

Elsewhere in National Two North, second placed Sedgley Park’s game against Sandal didn’t go ahead as the Yorkshire side felt the pitch was unplayable at Park Lane meaning Sedge are now 15 points behind league leaders Macclesfield, but do have a game in hand.

Stourbridge failed to take advantage of Sedgley Park not playing as they suffered back to back defeats.  They lost 3-10 to Leicester Lions at home which was the Lions’ third away win of the season and they are now just four points behind the top two.

In between Stourbridge and Leicester Lions in the table are fourth placed Caldy who ran out 31-6 winners at home to South Leicester leaving the Wirral side just two points off the play-off place.

Elsewhere in the top half, Otley’s two game winning run came to an end as they were beaten by Sale FC 22-16. This win for Sale eases any relegation worries they may have had and continues their great form at Heywood Road this term.

Into the bottom half where the side at the foot of the table, Huddersfield, were beaten for the 14^th time this season as they fell to a 9-22 defeat at home against Harrogate.

Relegation rivals Broadstreet lost 31-13 to an in-form Preston Grasshoppers who have now lost just one of their last nine games, but the Luctonians are now four points from safety after securing their second win in as many weeks as they edged out Chester 25-27 at Hare Lane.

National Two South

We have new leaders at the top of National Two South. Cambridge have overtaken the Old Albanian at the summit after the OA’s lost 20-16 to Bishops Stortford as the hosts maintained their 100 per cent home record.

This meant that Cambridge’s 62-10 thrashing of Canterbury was more than enough to take them back to the top as they now lead the way by two points.

Below them, Taunton Titans and Redruth both picked up victories with away wins over relegation threatened Bury St Edmunds and Chinnor. Elsewhere in the top half, the Old Elthamians edged out bottom club Launceston 17-20 while Barnes beat Dorking 15-29.

Towards the danger zone in National Two South, the Redingensians picked up a vital 20-11 win over Clifton as they are now one point off safety while Southend Saxons now occupy the final spot above the bottom three,  after they lpicked up a vital 25-10 win over Worthing Raiders.