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Bradford and Bingley 19 Macclesfield RUFC 24

16/ 4/2008

MACCLESFIELD moved out of the relegation area courtesy of a well contrived and gritty victory.

The Blues edged out a Bees outfit that refused to lie down in an entertaining game that kept supporters of both sides on the edge throughout.

The game began on a superb playing surface with a strong downfield wind and the Blues kicked off into the face of this.

The early encounters saw the home side attack but a good pick up from Dan Baines saw the ball progress to half way and relieve the pressure.

Ross Winney was unfortunate when a penalty, struck into the face of the wind after eight minutes’ play, held up and struck an upright before dropping back into play and, despite being against the elements, the Blues maintained pressure no scores came with both defences on top of their game.

The Macclesfield pack enjoyed several rousing rolling mauls - one of which must have covered 30 metres - and several periods of pressure in the Bradford 22 without reward until, after 35 minutes, as the half looked like ending scoreless, they mounted a concerted forward drive that saw flanker Neal Keane emerge with the ball to crash over the line for the first try. Winney converted to give the Blues a lead that they never surrendered.

Unfortunately just before the score the outstanding Dan Baines received a shoulder injury which forced him to leave the park and ended his season, Baines joining a lengthy injury list that has plagued the club this season.

As the interval approached it was the Bees who next got on the scoreboard when, after a line and drive, one of the forwards touched down in the corner but the conversion went adrift. The Blues almost conceded another try as the interval beckoned but Bradford wasted the opportunity when the ball was lost as an overlap beckoned.

The second half began with Macclesfield having the advantage of sun and wind and it was not that old when, after a scrum on the Bradford line, prop Ben Latham claimed the try for Winney to convert and make it 14-5 to the Blues.

However, as was the case throughout the game, the home side rallied and almost immediately scored a try themselves after Macclesfield lock Jerry Bostock had been binned for a professional foul. This was converted and it was all on at 14-12.

After 28 minutes the Blues created an overlap for full-back, man-of-the-match Rick Chadwick to link into the line on the overlap and touch down unopposed for Winney to add the two. At 21-12 and looking good, there were still concerns among the Blues faithful,which were compounded as the Bees refused to lie down and scored another try almost immediately which was converted to make it 21-19.

After an unusual penalty for scrum-half Andy Rice, penalised for not putting the ball in straight into a scrum, the Blues got down to business and a strong break from Tom Davenport created the ground from which Ross Winney struck the penalty that eased the Blues’ fears as the game entered injury time.

After the game coach Steve Mannion said: "I am delighted with the performance which was the best of the season, but we are still not out of danger and simply must win our game against Leicester next Saturday to be certain of our National status next season."