Bid falls short

And so Macclesfield regrouped and went in search of a try bonus which their second half attacking display deserved. Even the locals were confessing that Macc deserved something from the game with the way they came out second half and played when it appeared all was lost.

The Cheshire side pounded the Otley 22 and eventually Harry Blackwell picked up his brace after powerfully getting over in the corner. Neither of his finishes were easy and the young student showed great desire for the cause.

Beaumont will undoubtedly get the man of the match award but as far as Macc are concerned Sam Stelmazsek once again showed a spark in attack, Jordan Simpson was powerful in the carry, Tom Mantell and Sam Moss helped stabilise the scrum in the second half and captain Tom Morton never let the boys’ heads goes down.

So one point for Macclesfield on a day when all three relegation rivals, the Leicester sides and Wharfedale, all picked up wins. But again they showed great attacking threat, the only issue being that this seems to come when the pressure is off away from home, or when at home.

The good news is that the next two opponents are teams just in front of Macc in the table, Preston and Wharfedale, both at home, before what will likely be a decisive encounter away at Leicester Lions.

So some exciting rugby to come at Priory Park in the next month! Magee, Hudson, De Glanville, Mackie, Beaumont, Smith, Skelton and Rigg, Graham, Sanderson, Dunn, Mitchell, Malthouse, Dyson, Burns. Replacements: Watson, Moss, Willet, Scott-Paul, Joshua. Scorers: Tries: Dunn (2), Beaumont (5), Magee (9, 60), Graham (23), Beaumont (31, 32, 65) Conversions: Smith (2, 5, 9, 32, 60, 65) Macclesfield Lomax, Parry, Blackwell, Winterbottom, Hall, Morton, Stelmazsek and Berry, Longmore, Robinson, Brand, Palmer, Laing, Simpson, Rees. Replacements: Moss, Mantell, Cross, Thorp, Mason. Scorers: Tries: Hall (46), Rees (51), Blackwell (56, 74)