Macclesfield 41 Wharfedale 15

The opening game of the National Two North season turned into a nightmare for Wharfedale as they were outscored by five tries to two.

The afternoon was epitomised by Tom Barrett failing to score after a superb break took him to the Macclesfield line before dropping the ball in the act of scoring. Even the announcer had awarded the try only to be told that the referee had awarded a scrum to Macclesfield.

Dale started strongly and took the lead with a try from Tom Asejevs after four minutes which Barrett converted.

Dale competed in the first half but trailed 17-7 at the break to tries from David Marwick and Lewis Barker, who also added two conversions and a penalty.

A further penalty early in the second half extended the lead before Josh Burridge was yellow carded for kicking the ball out of the ruck.

Ryan Parkinson went over for a converted try while Wharfedale were down to 14 men. Dale responded with a Barrett penalty and an unconverted try from Jack Barnard.

The comeback was ruined when Dale sacrificed the ball in their own 22 and allowed the home side an easy converted try from Barker.

The stand-off added another conversion to a solo Parkinson try to round off the scoring.