Caldy’s luck deserts them during 19-16 defeat at Macclesfield

Dec 10 2008 by Neil Macdonald, Birkenhead News

Caldy’s luck deserts them during 19-16 defeat at Macclesfield

CALDY’S players will be checking to see if they have broken any mirrors or walked under ladders after lady luck deserted them again at Macclesfield.

After a week in which the match against Harrogate was abandoned because of fog and then the squad was decimated by a winter virus, the patched up team lost three players to serious injury in Cheshire – and eventually the game after finishing up the wrong side of a 19-16 defeat at Macclesfield.

Jake Lyon damaged knee ligaments and Jon Sewell broke his arm before half time, and then Sam Dickinson dislocated his thumb – all face lengthy lay offs.

Despite that, the walking wounded almost pulled off a victory and remain top of the table, by three points from Nuneaton.

The match started well with Ben Macpherson – one of many who could not train for most of the week – kicking a first-minute penalty, although it was quickly matched by Macclesfield’s Ross Winney.

A series of drives led to Johnny Lowden scoring in the corner for Macclesfield – which went unconverted – and another Winney penalty made it 11-3 to the home team with 30 minutes gone.

Caldy are not top of the table for nothing and responded with another Macpherson penalty. Captain Shaun Woof then broke through for a well-taken try to give Caldy the half-time lead against all the odds, 11-13.

The second half started badly, with another Winney penalty giving Macclesfield back the lead. But a visibly weakening Caldy dug deep and Macpherson kicked a 40-metre penalty to make it 16-14.

Macclesfield sensed their chance though and pushed on, with full back Fergus Mulchrone scoring what proved to be the match-winning try on 70 minutes.

Caldy director of rugby Tony Atherton said: “The players deserve a lot of credit for making it so close, given the week we have had, but so do Macclesfield, who took their chances well.”

Next week, Caldy take on Hull Ionians in the EDF Energy National Trophy, kick-off 2pm.