Brave fightback comes too late to deny Macclesfield

Macclesfield 31 Bournville 28

Bournville’s brave fightback came too late to claim victory but it salvaged two precious bonus points from a ferocious contest at Priory Park.

Bournville looked down and out when Macclesfield were 31-7 up with just 15 minutes to go but Bournville ran in 21 unanswered points in an 11 minute period that left the home side clinging on for victory and relieved to hear the final whistle.

Wing Dan Rundle celebrated his debut with a hat-trick of tries – the first of which opened the scoring after nine minutes – with Rob Knox getting the other and Freddie Morgan again impressing with his kicking off the tee by converting all four.

But for long periods Bournville could not get a toehold in the match as they were drawn into a forward battle by Macclesfield’s big and aggressive pack who caused problems for them at the scrum, breakdown and driving maul.

Macclesfield’s strong and direct running also tested Bourns’ defence and their physicality also left some battered bodies to be patched up before next week’s match against Redruth at Avery Fields.

It all began so well for Bournville with Jacob Fewtrell and Joe Jenkins combining well to send Rundle over for his first try down the right but Macclesfield were level again within five minutes after back-row Harry Hughes was driven over and centre Harry Oliver added the conversion from the touchline.

Oliver then scythed through from long-range after Macclesfield won another lineout and Bournville were unable to lay a hand on the stocky centre.

Macclesfield almost extended their lead three minutes into the second-half but a last-ditch tackle from Knox denied them although it proved to be a short-lived reprieve for Bourns as they gave away a penalty at the resulting scrum, Macclesfield kicked to the corner and Hughes went over for his second try.

Macclesfield bagged the bonus point after 55 minutes when Bournville failed to tidy up a kick through and wing Jamie Harrison snaffled the ball to dot down.

Replacement prop Christian Hone then smuggled his way over from close-range after a sustained attack from Macclesfield with Oliver adding the extras.

But that proved to be the home side’s final try as Bournville managed to play with the precision and ambition that had been missing for the first 65 minutes.

Knox rounded off a sustained attack with a try in the corner which Morgan converted from an acute angle and Rundle then took the chance to show his paces with a two-try burst, the first after Nellany had opened up the defence, the second after Nellany had attacked down the left.

Header image courtesy of Lee Sullivan