MACCLESFIELD- COVENTRY RUGBY match preview & weekend roundup

Macclesfield Preview: This Saturday the 29th January, kick off 3pm, sees Coventry Rugby visit Priory Lane, Priory Park, Macclesfield for the first time since both clubs were formed in the 1870’s.Promoted this season into NL1, Macclesfield Blues under the experienced Geoff Wappett and Andy Northey, have done much better than some pundits expected, they are now lying 4th on 46 points, with 8 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses.

Coventry will be smarting from Macclesfield’s visit to Coventry early in the season, when the home side lost 12-40, with flyhalf Tom Eaton having an excellent game.

Since beating Coventry on the 10^th October they have only lost away to Wharfedale, a close home loss to favourites London Scottish, and last week’s 12 try thriller against 2^nd placed Cambridge.

In Ross Whinney they have an experienced goal kicker as well as Eaton, and Evan Stewart is leading try scorer on 10.

With the Coventry squad containing 2 Macclesfield old boys in Martin Kent and Jon Lowdon, there is extra spice in what is expected to be another hard fought encounter.

Macclesfield had last week’s game against league leaders Barking postponed due to frost, whilst Coventry put up a gutsy if ultimately unrewarded performance against Cambridge.

If Coventry can build on last week’s performance against Cambridge then they should give a good account of themselves, and also deny Macclefield the chance of a double.

Weekend Results Roundup:

Results              Blackheath          25            Tynedale           18

                          Blaydon              17            Cinderford         20

                          Coventry             14            Cambridge         26

                          London Scottish  38            Otley                  22

                          Rosslyn Park       36            Redruth              23

Postponed  Launceston/Stourbridge, Macclesfield/Barking, Wharfedale/Sedgley Park.

Somewhat truncated fixtures this week due to the inclement weather in various parts. With Barking not playing, this gave London Scottish and Cambridge the chance to close the gap with their bonus point wins .Cinderford proved that their win over Coventry was no fluke by winning away from home at Blaydon, which took them out of the bottom 3.

Redruth and Otley both lost and with Launceston not playing they fill the bottom 3 places.

Finally Blackheath after 7 successive losses finally won against Tynedale.

Despite Coventry’s loss to Cambridge they are still only one bonus point win from 5^th position, which shows how close and exciting this league is becoming.