Having given away a soft opening try, Harrogate had to play catch up rugby for most of the game but kicked a late penalty to earn a well deserved bonus point.

Harrogate made an uncharacteristic mess of the Macclesfield kick-off leading to an attacking line-out. Macc set up a driving maul and a defensive mistake gave Rhodri Mayor a clear run through for a try converted by Lewis Barker. This made the score 0-7 in the first minute.

The Macclesfield pressure continued but strong Harrogate scrummaging brought them more into the game. Jonny Coser foraged well throughout the match in support of strong drives from Jake Brady and Tim Heaton. However, further Macclesfield drives created space for centre, Elliott Brierley whose try extended their lead.

Creative Harrogate back play forced was starting to find gaps in the Macclesfield defence and Callum Irvine followed up his own attacking chip to dispossess a defender and score in the corner. Lewis Minikin’s touchline conversion brought the half time score to 7-12.

The second half opened with dominant Harrogate forward play in the tight and in the loose. Minikin and Luke Edwards ran strongly in midfield but a stream of refereeing decisions kept Macclesfield ahead. The pressure continued with a strong Steve Parsons run and Charles Morgan was in support to score his maiden Harrogate try with the conversion putting them 14-12 ahead.

An even period of play followed till Macclesfield set up a series of driving mauls. The Harrogate defence held out till it was adjudged they had illegally prevented a score and a converted penalty try restored the visitors’ lead. A Barker penalty then made it 14-22 to put Harrogate out of bonus point territory.

However, Harrogate continued to exert pressure and force Macclesfield into desperate defence and a late Minikin penalty earned Harrogate a bonus point against the League leaders

Harrogate: Morgan, Bottomley, Minikin, Edwards, Parsons, Irvine, Wickham, Purkiss-McEndoo, Yorke, Reaveley, J Brady, S Brady, J Coser, G Coser, Heaton. Subs:- Larder, Ward, Boyde, London, Barnard

Macclesfield: Venables, Newton, Brierley, Eaton, Mayor, L Barker, Brookes, Gadd, Moss, Millar-Mills, Marwick, Lewis, F Barker, Smith, Parkinson. Subs:- Berry, Kent, Jones, Palmer, Evens

Referee: Brendan McGaffney (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall