It was all Harrogate at the start as they mounted successive attacks. Incisive breaks from Callum Irvine and Kyle Dench led to a driving maul from which Aarin Yorke squeezed through to score.

Macclesfield soon edged in front when Harrogate allowed 2nd Row Dave Marwick to burst throught a ruck and run 20 metres for a try converted by Tom Eaton.

Further Macclesfield attacks followed but, when they momentarily lost possession, Irvine snapped up the loose ball to sprint clear for a 40 metres try converted by Joe Rowntree.

Macclesfield responded with more driving forward play and the ball was released to centre Elliot Brierley who crashed over in the corner to level the scores.

A brilliant Irvine break then led to successive Harrogate drives and Nathan Smith burst over for a converted try.

Harrogate’s Rob Adair was then yellow carded for a technical offence and Macclesfield opted for a scrum against the 7 man Harrogate pack.

Michael Finnemore drove over and the conversion levelled the scores again.

Harrogate continued to attack inventively but Macclesfield won turnover ball and Prop, Tom Mantell made a devastating run through the home defence. The attack continued and winger Matt King supported well to score the bonus point 4th try

Harrogate’s attacking brand of rugby continued after the interval albeit with increasingly limited possession.

Macclesfield won turnover ball to put Louis Taylor into space for a try and, shortly afterwards, an Eaton penalty extended the lead.

Although outgunned, driving forward play from Tim Heaton and Nathan Smith created chances for Irvine, Sam Bottomley and Dench to test the Macc defence.

Another Eaton penalty widened the gap and a Macclesfield driving maul led to Marwick’s second converted try.

Replacement prop Sam Rodman scored the last try of the match and the final whistle followed Eaton’s conversion.

Harrogate: Rowntree ( Edwards 56), Parsons, Dench, Bottomley, L Minikin, Irvine, Wickham, Metcalfe, Yorke, Reaveley (Dutton 52), Brady (Johnson 66), Wilson (Harvey 52), Adair (N Minikin 61), Smith, Heaton

Macclesfield: Mellor, Taylor, Brierley, Davenport (Platt-Hughes 5), King, Eaton, Brookes (Baxter 73), Mantell, Moss, Robinson (71), Marwick, Williams, Jones (Degroot 45), Baxter (Blackwell 71), Finnemore

Referee: Wayne Falla (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall