Bradford & Bingley's head coach Geoff Wappett had spoken of his side seeking redemption, both for the loss at Fylde the previous week and for a poor performance earlier this season when Macclesfield triumphed 25-3.

The Wagon Lane side certainly gained a level of redemption from this victory as they never looked in danger of losing and, aside from the odd missed tackle in midfield and the odd wayward line-out, were comfortably the better side.

Macclesfield were game throughout, defended well and indeed opened and closed the scoring, but in between rarely threatened the Bees line.

The opening score was a Ross Winney penalty after three minutes, and the game was finished by a Bartle try, converted by Winney. Bradford & Bingley had targeted a bonus point from this fixture to try to peg back a point on divisional leaders Nuneaton, and there will be disappointment that it was not forthcoming as they failed to cross for a fourth try, despite their dominance.

However, the three they did score were all from the top drawer as Mark Kirkby, Jonny Leota and Phil Greaves crossed to liven up a particularly chilly afternoon.

The first score arrived after 13 minutes, Benny Greaves fielding a kick deep in his own half and, as he has done all season, the Bees full back looked to counter.

He skipped around two Macclesfield defenders to put himself clear in front of the stand. As the defending full back came across to make his tackle, Greaves slipped the ball to his left to find an unmarked Kirkby, who needed no invitation to pin his ears back and head for the line. Tom Rhodes slotted the conversion, to put his side 10-3 in front, and that same channel up the left was the route used in the next Bees score.

With 23 minutes on the clock, they found themselves with an overlap 60 metres out. The move was started and finished by Leota, who is always looking to beat his man, either by brute force or exceptionally quick feet.

With a step and a show of the ball, Leota got round his man and slipped the ball to his left. It was with that familiar final injection of searing pace that Kirkby took the ball deep into Maccles-field territory. As the defence closed in, Leota was there for the return pass and scampered in to the left of the posts.

Rhodes landed the conversion and increased the lead with a penalty as the home crowd settled down, expecting to see the two further tries that would earn that vital bonus point.

The hosts opened brightly and seemed to be establishing an attacking platform deep in the visitors' half.

However, excellent defensive work from Macclesfield seemed to dampen the Bees attack and, aside from a 53rd-minute Rhodes run, the game began to meander.

Then on the hour came a Bees score. The ball was being shifted along the backline following a succession of rucks and mauls to the right of the posts, when Phil Greaves found himself in possession around 20 metres out.

Rather than looking to offload, the big centre repeated a move that he has almost trademarked in recent weeks - head down and straight ahead, although this time he appeared to skip round the final tackler.

Rhodes landed the conversion, putting his side 27-3 in front with 20 minutes to play but the visitors didn't let up.