Match Reports 28th-1st March 2026

MACCLESFIELD 50 – SCUNTHORPE 19 

The Greens travel to Priory Park for their 1st ever visit to the Cheshire club.

The Greens have changed again from the wins over Fylde & Hull, in the pack, Dan Gilbert returns to second row and Rory Rendall-Tyrell in the back row, in the backs Ethan Heath Drury moves into fly half, Jack Murr & Laurence Pearce starts at centre and Kieran O’Mera starts for the 1st time on the wing having previously come on from the bench, Will Dale returns, with Jordan Beresford, Dan Longden & Elliott Saltmarsh and a first outing in the squad for Louie Cook complete the bench.

On a damp cool day Scunthorpe kickoff.

The Greens turn the ball over and go on the attack, five minutes in a misguided pass fell into the hands of Macclesfield 13 Harry Blackwell who completed the run and scored a try. Converted by Harry Oliver.

Macclesfield 7 Scunthorpe 0.

Greens on the attack, kick for a line out into the corner, Scunthorpe unfortunately miss the man in the line and Macclesfield clear their lines, A further line out sees the Greens attacking again and a great break by Jack Murr sees him seemingly tackled near the line, the referee after a consultation with his AR, said that the Macclesfield fullback Dan Leake prevents access to the ball by not rolling away, but also deems that the ball was lost forward in an attempt to score the try, a yellow card for Macclesfield fullback and only a penalty to the Greens, The Greens go for a well rehearsed Bridlington only to be penalised by the referee for too many players latched in contact, an opportunity missed to even up the score.

Greens were not fazed by Macclesfield league position and continued to take the game to them, The Greens were then penalised for pulling an arm in the line out, Macclesfield kicked to the greens 22m line, Macclesfield from the line out attacked the Green line and are only held back by a forward pass, Greens now under severe pressure but defending well in their own five metre line, they turn the ball over and clear out to their 10 metre line, The Greens still under the pressure from the line out and turn the ball over but a knock on brings a scrum to Macclesfield, Macclesfield went down the blind side to the right wing and then take it back across the field and break through the centre to score a further try by Sammy Adu, converted by Harry Oliver.

Macclesfield 14 Scunthorpe 0

Greens still worked hard and put the Macclesfield scrum under pressure bringing a knock on by the No8 James Oliver, from the scrum, the Greens pass the ball out only to knock on, Macclesfield are quickest to react and with quick hands and good support play score a try through the wing forward Harry Hughes conversion missed.

Macclesfield 19 Scun 0

From the kick off Macclesfield attack once more, play the ball with good linking play score a try though Sammy Adu, conversion missed.

Macclesfield 24 Scunthorpe 0.

From the kick off Macclesfield just kicked the ball off the field for halftime.

Macclesfield kicked off the second half, after a long passage of play between the halves, Macclesfield have a line out, a misplaced line out throw sees Macclesfield try to clear their lines only to be partially charged down by Ben Hyde who then reacts the quickest to pass the ball inside to Will Robinson, swift play and quick ruck ball, Joey Mowbray pass out for Elliot Saltmash to make the break, a swift ball back inside to the supporting Joey Mowbray who still had plenty to do from the 22 metre line breaks one tackle, only to be caught by another Macclesfield player who in an attempt to hold Joey up only succeeds in rolling him over the line to score the Greens first try.

Macclesfield 24 Scunthorpe 5

From the kick Greens under pressure but win the ball, in an attempt to run the ball from their 22 a Green player gets isolated conceding a penalty for holding on, from the ensuing line out Macclesfield drew in the Green forwards only to swiftly play out of the maul and good short passes to linking players saw a looping pass over the top to Samson Shute score in the corner, converted by Harry Oliver.

Macclesfield 31 Scunthorpe 5.

From kick off Macclesfield straight back in the attack, an attempted clearance by the Greens only finds its way into the hands of a Macclesfield player, quick ruck ball and again good linking play, finds the ball in the hands of Samson Shute who sees the Greens have good cover but a smart little kick ahead and a fortuitous bounce gets the ball back to score under the posts converted by Harry Oliver.

Macclesfield 38 Scunthorpe 5

Greens now with their backs to the wall against a rampant Macclesfield side concede a penalty, Macclesfield kick for the corner and this time use the catch and drive effectively to get within the Greens 5 metre line, they then break away from the maul, see the ball carrier drop the ball but seemingly backward for Alex Davies to react quickest and score a try.

Macclesfield 43 Scunthorpe 5.
From the kickoff Macclesfield ran the ball out of the 22 and found their way into the Greens 22, the Greens turned the ball over only to get penalised for holding on, Macclesfield again kicked for the corner, a good sack at the line out prevented Macclesfield driving to the line, good defence by Greens to hold Macclesfield out but they eventually were penalised for not rolling away, quick tap by the number 21 sees him score a try. Converted by Harry Oliver.

Macclesfield 50 Scunthorpe 5.

From the restart Macclesfield knocked the ball on but a player in front picked it up and was penalised for being offside, the Greens kick for the corner, win the line out but are then carried into touch for a Macclesfield put in, a great steal at the line out by Ben Hyde sees the Greens carry the ball to Macclesfield and after numerous drives at the line through the forwards, Jordan Beresford gets over for a try, Louie Cook takes his first conversion and hits the post with it bouncing the right way for the conversion.

Macclesfield 50 Scunthorpe 12.

The Greens now running everything, a break by Will Robinson, sees the ball carried into the Macclesfield half, only for a kick though to be carried back towards the Greens half, a kick through by Macclesfield hits a Greens player giving them a line out, Macclesfield win the ball and run at the Greens defence and some brave tackling sees Macclesfield knock the ball on, The Greens swiftly turn defence into attack and a tackle above the sternum on Laurence Pearce gives the Greens a penalty, the ball then kicked into the 22, a tap back at the line out and a quick reaction by Ben Hyde sees him break through the Macclesfield defence to be brought down short, quick ruck ball by the Greens and after a number of quick rucks a try for Elliot Saltmarsh converted again by Louie Cook.

Macclesfield 50 Scunthorpe 19.

The Greens now with a sniff of a try bonus point did everything in their means to get the ball up field, a knock on sees a scrum for Macclesfield who are penalised for collapsing the scrum, The Greens kick for the corner, they won the line out, set a catch and drive, Macclesfield defended and held the ball up sufficiently for the referee to blow for a stopped maul, he then blew the whistle for full time.

Macclesfield 50 Scunthorpe 19 FT

A valiant effort by the Greens to get within metres of a 4th try.

Considering the back line at the end of the game was totally different to the start of the game and with a number of players missing the players who came in played excellently against a team second in the league.

Match Report written by Graham Migdalski

MOM – Ben Hyde