Macclesfield girls travelled to Wigan on Sunday to play their first rugby league game against Shevington Sharks. Playing a bigger and more experienced side on what can best be described as a sloppy pitch, the girls put up a spirited team performance. Despite the odds being stack against them, the Macclesfield team was far from disgraced in losing 12-0.
During the first half, the nerves got the better of the girls and Shevington scored almost at will. Towards the end of the half, however, Macclesfield began to contain their opponents in the middle of the pitch, with Alice Carden and Rachel Marriott warming to their defensive duties.
The second half was a much more even affair. The Macclesfield half-backs Sandy Rushton and Megan Cooper began to direct operations, which created a couple of scoring opportunities for Abi Hargreaves and Hannah Atherton. While in defence, the solid tackling of Annabel Malkin, Ellie Sneesby and Lisa Marley limited the attacking threat from the massive Sharks forwards.
Overall, the Macclesfield girls showed sufficient individual skills and team work to suggest the team has a bright future.
Team: Rachel Marriot, Annabel Malkin, Lisa Marley, Alice Carden, Megan Cooper, Sandy Rushton, Ellie Sneesby, Hannah Atherton, Abi Hargreaves, Emma Beard.
