Luctonians can't afford to lose a game, says head coach Ryan Watkins

Watkins' side gave their National League 2 North survival chances a fresh boost at the weekend thanks to the boot of Sam Boxhall kicking four penalties.

Despite being outscored on the try count with Macclesfield crossing the whitewash twice to Luctonians once it was the hosts who clinched four crucial points and moved off the basement of the table.

The Kingsland based side sit 12 points behind Blaydon fourth from bottom but have played two games less with four games remaining.

"We are basically in a position where we can't afford to lose another game and if we do it will be out of our hands," said Watkins.

"At the moment it is in our grasp and we live to fight another week. I thought we were outstanding on Saturday in what was quite a tense game with Macclesfield defending well and had people on their feet so we had to kick our chances.

"I thought we were the better team and were in control, we were never in a position where we were hanging on and defended well the whole game."

The Mortimer Park faithful would have been fearing the worst early on as their team started slowly and went behind through a fortunate 24th minute try with James Hampson seeing his pass bounce off a defender and into his own hands opening the way for the opening score.

Luctonians played their way back into the tie and had the ball on the try line twice but dropped passes meant they let their opponents off.

However, the indiscipline of Macclesfield worked in the hosts favour and they allowed Boxhall a trio of kicking opportunities to gain the lead on 57 minutes.

Macclesfield showed why they have won 12 games this season by regaining the lead with Lewis Barker scoring their second try against the run of play and converted his own try to give them a 12-9 lead.

Boxhall reduced the arrears once again before Frank Kelly released Charlie Meredith for the winning try with five minutes left on the clock.