Macclesfield 17 Darlington Mowden Park 10

In atrocious conditions at Priory Park the Blues kept alive their season with a committed display – particularly up front – that in the end thwarted all that the visitors could throw at them and for the first time in a fraught March recorded a well deserved victory.

The game began after a minutes silence for young Jack Keep the six month old son of James & Jane who sadly passed away during the week after which the visitors kicked off to an accompaniment of strong wind and rain and in the early stages it became very evident that the ball had to be denied to the DMP threes who ran with confidence and indeed opened the scoring after a poor clearance kick presented them with a running opportunity classically finished off in the corner by winger Iain Dixon. The conversion from Jon Benson fell short but the lesson was learned and thereafter the DMP threes were effectively starved of ball whilst the Macclesfield pack gradually obtained ascendancy in the tight with the conditions suiting them.

The Blues should perhaps have scored when a period of pressure 10 metres from the DMP line went unrewarded soon after their try was scored but a lost line meant that the danger was cleared and it was not until the half hour that Macclesfield got on the scoreboard when Lock Ian Lear – having one of his better games – claimed the touchdown after a line out and drive. Ross Winney converted and it gave the Blues a lead they were not to surrender and half time arrived with the score Macclesfield 7 DMP 5 and still all to play for.

Macclesfield kicked off the second half and their determination was immediately evident when the forwards claimed the ball immediately but worryingly Tim Kerr had to leave the field with what appeared a rib injury to be replaced by Adam Mursal.

Winney increased the Blues lead with a penalty after 8 minutes and by now the rain was sheeting down making conditions difficult for both sides. A massive ‘up and under’ put the visitors defence under pressure and with the bit firmly between the teeth of the forwards it was no real surprise when, after a ten metre scrum, the forwards drove on for Mursal to claim the try duly converted by Winney after 18 minutes.

A brief scuffle after an alleged ‘spear tackle’ saw both sets of forwards air their frustration at the conditions but the subsequent penalty saw Park attack the Macclesfield line for a period which was relieved by an excellent touch kick from Tom Davenport.

Both sides were, perhaps understandably in the conditions, making handling errors but that did not detract from the excitement for the supporters of both clubs in the dry under the stand and with just ten minutes left it was DMP who scored their second try through replacement Lawrence Oliver after a good drive over the Blues line. The conversion was short and at 17-10 it was still anyone’s game but the Macclesfield pack encouraged on throughout by Scrum Half and Man of the Match – Andy Rice – who showed all his years of experience kept their heads and control and the game closed with the Blues in the DMP half and four valued league points which may yet save ‘National’ status.

For me the whole pack were ‘Men of the Match’

Team: Latham, Moss, Collie, Lear, Bostock, Kerr, Baines, Hewitt. Rice, Winney, Jones C, Hughes, Davenport, Fisher & Barker.

Replacements: Keane, Mursal, Chadwick & Newell