Taunton Titans 38 Macclesfield 33

An end-to-end game in which both teams scored 5-tries each and whilst the Titans held a 21-point to 7 lead at half time and with 30 minutes of the second half left that was extended to 31 points, Macclesfield always looked exciting with the ball in hand.

The Titans opened the scoring with just 3 minutes on the clock from a break by wing Reece Malone who fed on to scrum half Connor Banks to score, Louie Sinclair added the extras.  It was just over 9-minutes before we had the first lineout of the game, such was the determination of both teams to play running rugby.  “Man of the Match” Sam Leworthy rose majestically to win the ball and the  Titans went on the offensive again.  Stern defence by Macclesfield kept the Titans at bay but then one of those box kicks from a Titans maul, gave possession to Macclesfield and it was the Titans turn to defend.  15-minutes and the Titans are reduced to 14players with a yellow card and just three minutes later Macclesfield opened up the gap to level the scores with a converted try.  With just over 10-minutes of the first half remaining and the Titans in their own 22metre area Louie broke out passing onto Ben Heath who then passed on to fellow Ulster man Reece Malone to race away for the try in the corner.  A phenomenal kick by Louie from the touchline converted the try.  Oscar James then had to go off to  be replaced by Henry Webb ins first game off the season for the Titans.  He defended the  Macclesfield kick shrugging off  the attacker on the edge of the Titans22metre line and made the break down the touchline, on halfway with no support he kicked over and the footrace commenced. Macclesfield won the ball  but Henry tackled his man, getting to his feet and with Toots in support turned the ball over for the forwards to maul which allowed Charlie Wright to go in for the try.  Louie converted and the Titans saw the half out to lead 21 points to 7 at the break.

Macclesfield started the second half with intent and the Titans gave away more penalties in the first five minutes than in the whole of the first half.  Kicking to the corner should have given them the edge in the lineout but Sam Leworthy continued either winning their ball or making it untidy ball for them.  Several drives from the forwards relived the pressure but a knock on gave the ball to Macclesfield.  They kicked for Louie to field the ball just outside his 22metre line we then probably saw the try of the season with Louie sidestepping, jinking, accelerating and racing away to goal most the length of the pitch to score under the posts, a try which he converted.  From the re-start Macclesfield attacked and turned over the Titans ball for their centre Sam Aduto go in for the try in the corner.  The conversion was missed and the Titans kicked off.  Macclesfield gave away their first penalty of the second half and Louie kicked the goal. With a nineteen-point advantage the Titans were attacking in the Macclesfield22metre area but lost the ball. Macclesfield centre Harry Oliver who had scored their first try, picked up handed off two of our best tacklers and raced the length of the pitch to score the try which was converted.  Five minutes left and from nowhere Backrow forward Philip Laing goes in for the try which is converted and just five points in the game.  Two-minutes later and Henry Webb the Titans replacement wing steadies the nerves by racing in for the try which Louie converts.  But Macclesfield have the last say with a converted try on the whistle to leave  the final score Titans 38 Macclesfield 33.

The difference was the boot of Louie Sinclair and the decision to kick one of only two penalties Macclesfield gave away in the second half.

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