After a long and extended campaign the championship-winning Blues closed their league season with a comprehensive victory at Mint Bridge.
They reached the pinnacle and gained deserved automatic promotion into National One and all the challenges that will bring for next season after seven seasons of effort.
But they were made to fight all the way by a Kendal side clearly not there to make up the numbers.
Macclesfield kicked off into a strong wind and it was the home side who opened the scoring after four minutes when Mark Ireland slotted the first of his three penalties.
However, minutes later Matt Simpson made a good break into the Kendal 22 following a poor Kendal clearance kick. Several phases of attack finished with prop Martin Kent claiming Macclesfield’s first try. The Ross Winney conversion drifted wide but 10 minutes of pressure later a 30-metre drive by the pack led to flanker Dan Baines - one of many in the squad to have had an outstanding season - claiming the touch, Winney’s conversion extended the lead to 12-3.
Ireland struck his second penalty but Kendal’s Richard Harriman was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on spoiling a Blues attack. It didn’t take the visitors long to capitalise on the advantage when, following a five-metre scrum, it was Tom Eaton who ghosted his way over the line to score try number three to visibly relax a host of visiting supporters.
The Cumbrians drew closer as the interval approached with the third Ireland penalty to make it 19-9 at the break after a first half of which 80 per cent was spent in Kendal territory, despite Macc being against the wind.
The second half began with a clearly fired-up home side taking the game to Macclesfield and they were rewarded as the Blues were reduced to 14, Eaton getting 10 for an alleged illegal tackle, when their outstanding and long serving prop Billy Coxon finished off a drive to score. Ireland's conversion brought the game back to life at 19-14.
Thankfully for Macclesfield that was to be the last time that Kendal troubled the scoreboard. As the game entered the final quarter the character and fitness of the squad showed as, following several phases of play, Evan Stewart got the bonus-point try to increase the lead. The game was taken away from the hosts when the try of the game was scored after a superb Tony Howcroft break saw him feed fellow centre Richard Hughes, who had the formality of scoring by the sticks. Winney converted both and at 33-14 the game was won.
The icing on the cake came five minutes from time when lock Alan Marsh crossed. Winney converted to start the celebrations.
