Macclesfield played their first rugby league festival of the new season on Saturday. Making the short journey to Salford, the girls under 16s produced their best performance to date. First they pushed the National Champions, Warrington Wolves, all the way before going down 5-3 in a very tight game. Then in an enthralling match Macclesfield drew 8-8 before running out easy winners against Chorley Panthers. The hard work of the players over the past 12 months is now starting to pay off on the pitch. Ellie Sneesby, Sandy Rushton and Rachael Marriot played with authority, while Mollie Heywood and Elisha Bradley put in their best performance to date.
Reflecting the growth in girl’s rugby in the town, the club also sent under 14s players to the festival. Macclesfield teamed up with Barrow Island. Pip Gregory proved to be the player of the day, scoring 4 tries, making telling tackles and playing with maturity beyond her years. On the performance of both teams club official Kathy Marriot said “The players just did not know when to go home, they just kept on with determination from the first game to the last.”
To add to the success of the girls at the festival the club heard the Rugby Football League have accepted their application to play in the women’s Rugby League Conference starting in May.
Coaching Sessions for girls between 11 - 15 takes place every Tuesday (6 - 7 pm) at Macclesfield Rugby Union Club, Priory Lane, Macclesfield. For more information contact Head Coach Ian Atkin i.atkin90@ntlworld.com
