Clifton…………………..52
Macclesfield………. 17
CLIFTON turned in their best all-round performance of the season and ran in eight tries for the second successive Saturday with inform winger AJ Kilbane claiming a hat-trick.
A spirited Macclesfield crossed three times in the final stages to recover from the 50-point deficit they were facing. Clifton’s incisive back division sparkled in the autumn sunshine with scrum-half Mitch Spencer, on his 200th appearance, partnering well with fly-half Tom Quinlan to set up rapid moves.
The first strike came from a well-judged Quinlan kick , a line-out steal and a pass to send Jay Evans over, with Quinlan adding the first of six conversions. An interception and 50-metre run sent Kilbane over before the jinking Spencer added to the tally.
Slick handling and a powerful finish saw
Matty Smith join the procession with Kilbane again chasing a kick ahead. A quick-tap penalty taken by Spencer presented Kilblane with his hat-trick. Quinlan then got his own kick to go under the posts.
The eighth try came from Freddie Myatt following a catch and drive. Macclesfield seemed to raise their determination and came back to catch a relaxed Clifton. Tries came from Jamie Harrison, Elliott Alston and Tom Jennings.
TEAMS
CLIFTON: Daniels, Kilbane, Smith, Nel, Hamid, Quinlan, Spencer, Holcombe, Myatt, Evans, Sainsbury, Hutchinson, Buckley, Anderson, Cole-Fontayn.
Replacements: Davey, White, Boyland, W Owen, D Owen MACCLESFIELD: Adu, Jennings, Birkett, Oliver, Harrison, Blackwell, Martin, Oliver, Hughes, Boughey, Harding, Blackburn, Darlington, Longmore, Hone.
Replacements: Percival, Hulbert, Alston, Church, Winterburn.
REFEREE: Haydn Davies ATTENDANCE: 180
Star player Tom Quinlan – Clifton