Already highly motivated, Harrogate were even more inspired by a pre match statement from visiting coach, Geoff Wappett. He’d stated that they’d win the League if they beat Loughborough next week, obviously assuming that a Macclesfield victory today was a foregone conclusion.

After withstanding some early Macclesfield pressure, Harrogate took the game to them and set up an attacking lineout. Visiting flanker, Evan Stewart, was yellow carded for taking a man out in mid air and further Harrogate pressure followed from the penalty. Harrogate stole a Macclesfield lineout and quick hands put Jamie Broadley into space . He split the Macclesfield defence and cleverly chipped ahead for Kyle Dench to gather and score in the corner.

An even period followed with both sides trying to unlock good defences but it was again Broadley who created Harrogate’s second try. His incisive break and well timed pass gave Steve Parsons just enough space for his strength and pace to take him over the line.

Minutes later, it was that man Broadley again. He carried on a powerful Dench midfield break and his pace and guile split the Macclesfield defence. Ed Smithies made the extra man to gratefully accept the scoring pass and give Harrogate a 15-0 half time lead.

Macclesfield had the strong breeze behind them from the restart and went straight on to the attack. Ryan Peacey was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and Macclesfield opted for an attacking scrum from the resulting penalty. Flanker, Dan Baines, duly touched down under the posts. Macclesfield’s Ross Winney is the League’s leading points scorer but was over confident in taking the conversion from too near the goal line. Parsons used his height and speed to charge down the kick and the missed 2 points proved to be crucial.

Macclesfield scored 14 more points during Peacey’s absence proving how important sin binnings can be. A converted try came when centre,Tony Hawcroft, snapped up a loose ball and showed great pace to cut through the depleted Harrogate defence. Further Macclesfield pressure followed and the outstanding Stewart atoned for his earlier sin by breaking clear to score and give Winney his second conversion.

This put Macclesfield 15-19 ahead and, when their 4th try was scored by replacement forward Chris Jones, another bonus point victory seemed to be theirs for the taking However, Harrogate were not to be denied. Replacement hooker, Harry Hannan, straightened an attack and Parsons squeezed in for his second try. Harrogate’s 5th try & Parsons’ hat trick came from a hanging Mike Aspinall kick. Two Macclesfield defenders seemed to have it covered but Parsons leapt high to gather the ball and sprint 50 metres for a breathtaking try.

Fifteen minutes of normal time remained and Macclesfield continued to attack. However, the Harrogate forwards gave a textbook display of driving mauls and ball retention to hang on to the narrowest of leads.

Several Harrogate players have been named in this report but, above all, it was an outstanding team effort. This makes it enormously difficult to select a “man of the match” and a strong case can be made for at least 8 players. However, since it must go to somebody, flanker, Ed Maslaveckas, gets the nod for his tireless pace, commitment and skill.

Harrogate: Smithies, Parsons, Dench, Broadley, McGee (Bottomley 68), D Davies, Aspinall, Browne, Yorke (Hannan 53), S Davies (Metcalfe 53), Spencer (Hewetson 58), Brady, Lewis, Maslaveckas, Peacey

Macclesfield: Mulchrone, Simpson, Hughes, Hawcroft, Fowles, Winney, Eaton, Mantell, Moss, Robinson, Marsh, Owen (Jones 42), Baines, Stewart, Keep

Referee: Dave Edmunds (RFU)

links to other articles about this match.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/8630544.stm

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/rugby-union/Gate-looking-to-finish-in.6240992.jp