NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO NORTH

Wharfedale 35

Macclesfield 25

ON a sunny but breezy afternoon at the Avenue, Wharfedale ran out 35-25 winners in a closely fought and entertaining game on Saturday.

Macclesfield opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Nyemba crossed for a try converted by Morton.

A knock on from the restart gave Dale field position and Sam Gaudie sniped over for an unconverted try.

The home side took a 10-7 lead in the 21st minute when George Hedgley went over after good work by Tom Mann and James Tyson.

The Blues came back strong with another converted try from Parry.

Solid forward play from Wharfedale laid the platform for Oliver Cicognini to score out wide.

The conversion hit the bar before more good link work saw Harry Bullough cross for the fourth try in the 36th minute.

Half-time came with the home side leading 20-14.

With both sides looking better with ball in hand and with Morton starting to run the show, Macclesfield clawed back three points with a successful penalty.

More good play from Macclesfield saw them regain the lead with a try by the impressive Davies. The conversion failed and the visitors were 22-20 up.

The Greens scrummage then took command and after a number of infringements, Josh Burridge crossed from a push over.

Jack Blakeney-Edwards was successful with the conversion as he was with a penalty following a further scrum indiscretion; and the Greens led 30-22.

A good break from Rees saw Macclesfield awarded a penalty which brought the score to 30-25 going into the final stages.

A breakaway try from Phillip Woodhead on the stroke of full-time saw Wharfedale run out 35-25 winners.

Macclesfield can feel aggrieved to finish with nothing after holding the upper hand for large parts of the game.