Macclesfield 27  Harrogate 28

Leading 21-8 at the half time break the Blues having scored three tries to one it looked like ‘bonus point’ time for the Blues but they did not take into account a Harrogate come back which gave them a narrow victory and the five points on offer as they lost the 100% home record with a disappointing second half performance.

The game started with a powerful breeze blowing across Priory Park and Macclesfield kicked off. The home pack were looking in dominating form early on it was no real surprise when Ollie Hewitt touched down after just nine minutes after a strong run by Jon Lowdon took play into Harrogate territory.  Ross Winney added the two and Josh Fowles made a good 50 metre break to keep Macclesfield on top but it was the visitors who scored next after a missed tackle allowed the break for winger Sam Bottomley to score wide out to close the scores.

Poor Macclesfield defence in the Harrogate 22 lost 80 metres but shortly afterwards the Blues scored the try of the game when Fergus Mulchrone linking in from the Full Back spot finished off a classic move started by a Lowdon break. Again Winney added the two and just before the interval the third try came thanks again to some good forward work with Hewitt claiming the touch. Winney again converted and at 21-5 it was all Macclesfield.

Michael Aspinall – a thorn in Macclesfield’s side all afternoon along with the Harrogate No 8 Ryan Peacey – notched a penalty as the interval beckoned and he added to his tally just one minute into the second half when he crashed over in the corner and it was game on despite him missing the conversion.

Aspinall & Winney exchanged penalties before the most controversial moment of the game came when a hardly straight Harrogate line out saw the following play reveal to the spectators at least a Harrogate knock on before the ball was despatched wide out left for Winney to kill the ball illegally and get ten minutes in the bin for his transgression.

During the next ten minutes Harrogate used their numerical superiority to score tries through Aspinall and John Dunne with a conversion from Aspinall to give the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.  (28-24).

Jon Lowdon reduced the arrears to a single point with a penalty and for the final ten minutes of the game both sides endeavoured to seal the victory and only a last ditch tackle by Josh Fowles prevented a Harrogate score after an interception in the Macclesfield 22 as the home side threw all into the quest for victory.

In the end Harrogate, having used their ‘get out of jail’ card took five points to Macc’s one and for the neutral observer a fine game of rugby but the supporters of both sides will not want any more heart stoppers like this one!

Rugby Operations Manager – Brendan Thomas – was in philosophical mood after the game stating, “It is not through lack of effort on the park but ‘management’ of the game needs to improve”

Team:

Mulchrone, Lowdon, McDermott, Hughes, Fowles, Winney & Townsend.

Devine, Allen, Robinson, Marsh, Bonner-Evans, Hewitt, Baines & Keep.

Replacements: Craine, Taylor, Lear, Smithson & Needham.