Macclesfield 41 Blaydon 15
When Blaydon last visited Priory Park both clubs were fighting to avoid relegation from National One. Blaydon came out on top in that encounter but both subsequently failed to survive and Saturday’s renewal would suggest that Macclesfield have settled much the better in the lower division.
Despite the score-line however this was probably Blaydon’s best performance so far with tries from hooker Cameron Bell and winger Jack Appleton that kept them in contention at 20-10 mid-way through the second half.
But pressing for more success led to their downfall when a couple of passes went down, handing the initiative to the home side who gratefully accepted the gifts and ran in 3 tries in a 5 minute purple patch to settle the outcome.
John Brennan