ST Anselmians made the short trip to Priory Park home of Macclesfield RUFC, a club comfortably top half in a league two above Saints who sit top of the table in North 2 West, to be greeted by a firm pitch and bright sunny conditions albeit with a fair breeze.

Macclesfield's team were attacking from the off, however Saints stood firm but Macclesfield eventually broke free from a missed tackle to go over the line and open the scoring after 16 minutes.

Shortly afterwards a break by the Macc winger resulted in another try in at the corner.

With the score now at 12-0 it looked like a long afternoon for the Saints travelling support.

The Saints team then seemed to step up a gear, with Ewan Nolan making a break from his own 22 to 5m out where a scrambling Macc defence held him up ,a quick recycle of the ball and Liam Sadler scored between the posts, game on.

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Adam Bramall tackle. Picture: Derek Salisbury Snr

Two minutes after the restart James Whitehouse intercepted the ball and went the length of the pitch to score again under the posts 12-14.

At this point the game slowed as an injury to a player from each side broke the flow of the game, with Nolan going off for Saints and influential prop Robinson for Macc.

Powerfull Saints second rower Fred Clark found himself in some space to power through a tackle and score nr the posts converted by the trusty boot of Morley.

Macc responded with a converted try and score at HT 19-21.

With the Saints scrummage lead by the Salisbury brothers and Brookes dominant in the scrum and a 100% perfect line out they started to see much more of the ball.

Yet again, Whitehouse ran another two tries with nobody able to keep put a hand on him, tries also for replacement hooker John Bonner bursting from the back of a maul, and Dai Morley with a quick tap penalty.

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Dai Morley in action. Pic: Derek Salisbury Snr

This spurred on Macc and they began throwing the ball round having brought on fresh legs, they scored another two tries - only one of which was converted.

With five minutes left on the clock a scramble in defence allowed Saints sub Brian Atwine to power through a couple of defenders and touch down the loose ball, Morley missed the conversion leaving the final score 31-54.

Morley, with a try and seven conversions plus some exellent kicking to pin Macc back time after time, Tom Gilbert Will Grebe and Andy Cummins all having outstanding games but Man of the match goes to James Whitehouse for his three tries.

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James Whitehouse. Pic: Derek Salisbury Snr

Coach Degsy Salisbury said: "I was very pleased with the commitment from the lads today.

"This is the biggest scalp in the clubs history so far and we now have a semi-final against another of the areas bigger clubs, Lymm, this time with a home fixture"

Referee was Jack Moorhouse ,current Sale FC player who is retiring from the playing game at the end of the season to take up the Whistle .We wish him well on this new venture we are sure he will go far.

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St Anselmians Team pic by Pic: Derek Salisbury Snr