Macclesfield Lions had a fine win when beating a strong, committed and previously unbeaten Manchester side at Priory Park.
Despite the defeat Manchester retained the league leadership.
With the Lions opting to start with their youngest and least experienced side of the season, their defending was particularly pleasing.
This was especially so in the final quarter when Manchester applied great pressure as they manfully defended their unbeaten record.
Improvements are required in attack - if they had been more clinical with their chances, the Lions’ margin of victory would have been bigger.
The game started with both defences dominating, but the Lions gradually gained the upper hand and, after 25 minutes, following a good work by winger Nick Wilding, debutant scrum-half Nick Barker broke away to score a terrific try.
Manchester responded on 30 minutes with their own try. This started with a scrummage at halfway which the Lions defended naively.
They repsonded well and, after great forward pressure, skipper Ian Roberts put in a cross-field kick that Tom Kanauros touched down.
Indiscipline gave Manchester a penalty shot which they took to level the scores bfore the break.
The Lions’ disappointment at turning round on level terms was channelled positively and Dan Brocklehurst scored after a Martin Rosser charge-down and more concerted forward pressure.
As darkness descended on an overcast day, Manchester attacked strongly in the final quarter and gave the Lions defence a severe test.
Manchester attacked for most of this period and benefited from many borderline decisions. The Lions went down a man as Andy McGeorge was given a yellow card for not retreating.
Manchester finally scored a try wide out with the last play of the game but the resulting conversion hit the post and went wide and the Lions edged the game by two points.
They travel to Broughton Park on Saturday.
