National League One

Macclesfield 31

The hosts startd this game promisingly but finished playing second fiddle to a well organised Macclesfield outfit.

A trip to title-chasing Fylde this Saturday is hardly what the doctor ordered.

Forwards coach Lee Fortey said: "We're disappointed to lose this match after such a good start but we lost our way in the middle of the game. We coughed up too much ball."

In the first minute of the match winger Lloyd Stapleton went over in the corner only to be adjudged to have put his foot in touch.

Three minutes later, full-back Mike Wilcox joined the line at pace and with two clever sidesteps burst clear of the Macclesfield cover. He offloaded to winger Rob Winchle, in acres of space, who breezed over unopposed. Teague added the conversion.

Macclesfield hit back after hacking the ball downfield. A wicked bounce wrong-footed Winchle and Hughes gratefully gathered the ball to go over, with Winney converting.

Prop Will Robinson grabbed a second try for Macclesfield but Teague booted a 23rd minute penalty after some indiscipline from the visitors led to them being marched back 20m to just outside their own 22.

Five minutes before half-time Macclesfield got the rub of the green with another kind bounce of the ball. Alan Marsh crashed through for a score that Winney converted, giving Macclesfield a 19-10 half-time lead.

Cinderford started the second half brightly with centre Simeon James making two good breaks in midfield.

It was number eight George Evans who got the next try, splitting from the back of a ruck on halfway and racing 40m down the blindside for a superb touchdown.

On 57 minutes Macclesfield winger Jack Moorhouse cut a breathtaking line to run in under the posts. The killer blow came four minutes later, Eddie Stobart crossing the whitewash to put Macclesfield 31-15 in front.

Cinderford did not give up and produced the try of the game. Wilcox attacked from his own 5m line, then fed Teague on halfway. A miss-pass to Kai Done was played back inside to Teague, who offloaded to Rob Winchle. The winger dived over close to the touchline.

Cinderford continued to press but were unable to find a way through Macclesfield's defence for the bonus point score.

Cinderford: Mike Wilcox, Lloyd Stapleton, Simeon James, Dewi Scourfield (Kai Done 67), Rob Winchle, Rory Teague, Danny Pointon, Yann Thomas (Joe Smart 53), Tom Bozzard, Tom Heard, Ben West, Ed King, Will Foden (Jake Kitson 62), Chris McNeil (capt), George Evans. Reps not used: Ben Draper, Lee Fortey.