Macclesfield 44 Blackheath 17

A hugely disappointing display from Blackheath, who failed to transpose their fine form from the previous Saturday against Cambridge, to their first ever visit to Priory Lane.

Against a Macclesfield side lying fourth and excelling in their debut season in National League One, the Club were comprehensively beaten, any meaningful resistance extinguished by the hour mark.

By that time Macclesfield full-back Ross Winney, who kicked beautifully throughout the contest, had added two penalties to the Blues’ half-time lead of 24-12, as well as the conversion to a 54th minute try from Evan Stewart, the number-eight scoring after the hosts had opted for a scrum from a penalty under the uprights.

Blackheath rallied and created enough pressure to work wing James Stephenson over for a consolation effort on 69 minutes, but the completion of a hat-trick for Jack Moorhouse in the final moments put the cherry on the cake for the Cheshire club.

Moorhouse it was who opened the scoring, when the Blues’ outside-centre hit a pass from scrum-half Chris Townsend at pace to storm across from 20-metres, and Stewart’s first try following a close-range line-out left the visitors playing catch-up after only twelve minutes.

Club tight-head Simon Legg was driven over for a try in response, but the 14-point gap was restored soon after, as Moorhouse dived on a loose ball over the visitors’ goal-line when Blackheath had seemed to have thwarted a Macclesfield attack in the right corner.

Once again Blackheath responded positively, and as flanker Dave Allen crashed over for a second try, after second-row Ally Vanner had leapt to collect a five-metre line-out, the Club were back within a converted score of levelling the game.

But as the interval approached, a scrum on half-way saw Stewart break up field, the Blues skipper off-loading to open-side Ed Sayce for a 12-point lead, and setting the platform for Macclesfield to take the game away from Blackheath after the re-start.

Next Saturday Blackheath make the much shorter trip to another Priory Lane, this time in Roehampton to take on London rivals Rosslyn Park in a 3.00 pm kick-off.

Macclesfield Tries: Moorhouse 3, Stewart 2, Sayce. Conv: Winney 4. Pens: Winney 2.

Blackheath Tries: Legg, Allen, Stephenson. Conv: Windsor. Pens: Windsor.