This Saturday we welcome all the players, officials and supporter of Macclesfield who are always welcome guests to Tynedale Park.
We also welcome to Tynedale Park our friends from Middlesbrough, Bishop Auckland and Border Park. Middlesborough play our Raiders while Border Park are combining with our Hadrians to play Bishop Auckland.

We also, of course, extend a very warm welcome to all of this week’s match officials who make our matches possible.

To EVERYBODY - Enjoy your day!

INCREASED CAPACITY
This weekend we are erecting a heated marquee on the new patio to the west of the clubhouse.
This increase in capacity will allow more people to enjoy in comfort the club’s hospitality throughout the afternoon and evening.

We’ll once again be showing the Six Nations Championship matches in both the clubhouse and the new marquee, culminating in France vs England Six Nations match at 8pm.

DUNNY REACHES THE 350 MILESTONE
When Graeme Dunn runs out on Saturday it will be his 350th 1stXV league appearance - a tremendous achievement and still lots more to come ?!? (He'll never catch his Dad!)

Graeme made his 1stXV debut on 6th October 2007 - over 18 years ago!

Congratulations Graeme - have a good game and ENJOY.

MACCLESFIELD RUFC
A few facts about today’s visitors:-
• Rugby was established under the auspices of the 8th Cheshire Rifle Volunteers in 1874.
• Macclesfield Rugby Football Club was formed in 1877 – playing at the Cricket Club.
• Macclesfield affiliated to the Union in 1878.
• J.W.H. Thorp, captain of Macclesfield, President of Cheshire 1883, was President of the Rugby Football Union in 1898.
• The present club was formed in 1927.
• The club ‘lodged’ at Kings’ School then moved to London Road in 1950.
• Used new grounds at Tytherington in 1961.
• Finally, the club moved to Priory Park in 1980.

TYNEDALE v MACCLESFIELD RUFC

In the 34 matches between the two clubs since 1995 Tynedale lead by 19 wins to 14, with one match drawn (1996).

Tynedale last played Macclesfield at Tynedale Park in March 2019 – a match which Tynedale won 33-12.
The Tynedale squad that day was:-
FORWARDS
Elliott, Batey, Carmichael, Wearmouth, Dunn, Cousin, Farrar, Bell
BACKS
Outson, Parker, Passma, Burden, Miller, Pike, Beaumont
REPLACEMENTS
Hughes, Black, Mills, Marshall, Checksfield

Since the 2018-2019 season Macc have a had a very varied League rugby existence, whilst Tyne have remained in National Two (North) throughout.

From 2019 until 2022 Macclesfield played in the North Premier League, then in season 2022/23 they finished 5th in Regional 1 North West, a tier 5 league, and followed that up with topping the table in 2023/24, so regaining National League status but they were promoted in to National League Two (West).
At the end of last season Macclesfield were moved to our League (Nat.2(North) for 2025/26 by level transfer and have certainly enjoyed good results in their time here.

MATCH THIS SEASON AT MACCLESFIELD
From the Macclesfield website:-
”Priory Park witnessed its most thrilling contest of the season as Macclesfield edged a breathless 39–38 victory over Tynedale, a match in which the lead changed six times and neither side managed to gain more than a nine-point advantage.

With both teams producing six tries apiece and the scrums evenly matched throughout, this was a superb advert for National Two North rugby and a contest worthy of two sides now locked on eight wins and two defeats in the top four.”

LOCAL DERBY ?
When Macclesfield travel the 174 miles (approx.) to Corbridge on Saturday, this represents the furthest the team will travel for League matches this season. When Macc. played in Nat2 (West) last season they had to go to Redruth (319 miles) and Camborne (322 miles) – so today’s match will seem like a local derby!

HE’S ONE OF OUR OWN!
One player who will be playing for Macclesfield today is an ex-Tynedale favourite, Ben Blackburn, who played at Lock against Tynedale in the away fixture earlier this season, on 15th November (and scored a try) when Macclesfield won 39-38.

Ben came through Tynedale’s juniors & Colts. When he left school he went to Teesside University and played rugby for Billingham RFC, who were then in the North Premier League. He made his debut there in September 2017.

Ben first played for the Tynedale 1st XV on 16 Nov 2019 (at age 22) against Stourbridge (away) where he came off the bench and scored a try, as he was wont to do. He played 57 games for the 1st XV at Lock and in the back-row until 2024. He scored 13 tries.

MACCLESFIELD THIS SEASON
Macclesfield have had an excellent season back in our league following a season in National 2 West.

Macc have won 17 of their 20 matches and currently sit in third place, one place and one point behind Tynedale, but with a game in hand over us. They have proved to be a very free-scoring side and have notched 823 points from their 20 matches played – the highest scorers in our league averaging over 41 points per game. (Tynedale have scored 733 points from 21 matches averaging 34.9 points per match).
Macclesfield’s only away blemish this season was last month, when they suffered a heavy defeat at Hull Ionians.

Macclefield’s league results to date:-
Macclesfield 46 Sheffield Tigers 26
Rossendale 41 Macclesfield 53
Macclesfield 31 Hull Ionians 26
Preston Grasshoppers 29 Macclesfield 42
Macclesfield 19 Fylde 21
Hull 26 Macclesfield 66
Macclesfield 41 Billingham 19
Macclesfield 25 Sheffield 41
Scunthorpe 14 Macclesfield 66
Macclesfield 39 Tynedale 38
Wharfedale 15 Macclesfield 43
Macclesfield 38 Darlington MP 24
Otley 34 Macclesfield 55
Macclesfield 56 Rossendale 0
Macclesfield 38 Preston Grasshoppers 26
Fylde 26 Macclesfield 27
Macclesfield 45 Hull 19
Hull Ionians 38 Macclesfield 7
Billingham 28 Macclesfield 36
Macclesfield 50 Scunthorpe 19

COMPETITION FOR THE ONE PLAY-OFF PLACE
This season play-offs have been re-introduced and with Sheffield being strong favourites for ending top its Tynedale, Macclesfield and Hull Ionians competing for the runners-up position which qualifies for entry into a four team play off to decide who plays in National One next season. (View play-off details)

LEAGUE TABLE

MATCHES OUSTANDING AFTER THIS SATURDAY
21st March
Sheffield v Tynedale
Macclesfield v Wharfedale
28th March
Sheffield v Macclesfield
11th April
Tynedale v Scunthorpe
Darlington MP v Macclesfield
18th April
Billingham v Tynedale
Macclesfield v Otley
25th April
Wharfedale v Tynedale
Sheffield Tigers v Macclesfield

MACCLESFIELD WEBSITE
https://www.macclesfieldrufc.co.uk/

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Harris
AR1: Brendan Fitzmaurice
AR2: Liam Rogers

BALL BOYS
Tynedale Under 14’s

WEATHER FORECAST
Sunny intervals, gentle westerly breeze, 10 degrees

OTHER SENIOR FIXTURES THIS SATURDAY
Tynedale Raiders v Middlesbrough Wasps - (2pm) – CaNDY 1 League
WB Rockcliff Vikings v Tynedale Centurions (2.30pm) – CaNDY 3N League
Tynedale Colts - No Fixture
Border Park/Hadrians v Bishop Auckland (12.30) - Friendly

[blOTHER NATIONAL 2 NORTH MATCHES THIS WEEKEND[/B]
Darlington MP v Fylde (3pm)
Otley v Preston Grasshoppers (3pm)
Rossendale v Billingham (3pm)
Scunthorpe v Sheffield (3pm)
Sheffield Tigers v Hull Ionians (3pm)
Wharfedale v Hull (2pm)

SELECTED SQUADS