Wharfedale 19, Macclesfield 5

Wharfedale, facing the only other realistic candidates for the final relegation place, earned what could turn out to be a crucial victory in their bid for an 18th successive season in SSE National League One.

Though understandably fiercely fought, the match was sportingly contested throughout.

The opening 15 minutes was all Macclesfield. They tore at the home defence and were very unfortunate to garner no more than a Dean Williams try in the fifth minute from this spell of almost overwhelming ascendancy.

The Greens somehow held out and, the siege lifted, mounted pressure of their own.

By half-time they had created three penalty chances, all converted by the reliable boot of fly half Tom Barrett.

Just as in the first half, Macclesfield began the second period on the attack, camping near the Dalesmen’s line for the opening ten minutes – but were denied by resolute defence.

Thereafter, the serious pressure was mostly from the home side.

Barrett calmly slotted a 35-metre drop-goal in the 66th minute to make it 12-5.

Three minutes later, a ferocious drive for the visitors’ line was halted illegally, a triumphant roar from the crowd greeting referee Simon Harding’s award of a penalty try, with Barrett converting.

Remarkably, those ten points, effectively sealing the win, were scored while the Greens were reduced to 14 men by the carding of prop Mark Tampin.

With a yellow card then shown to Greens flanker Chris Howick in the minute, Macclesfield sensed the chance for what could have been an important bonus point.

Wharfedale were equally aware, however, and fought tenaciously to protect their line to the final whistle.

So, Wharfedale’s fate remains in their own hands – level on points with Macclesfield, and with a game in hand.

A remark from a visiting supporter, as he made his way to the bar post-match, is apposite: “Well, they wanted it more than us.”

Wharfedale: A Whaites (J Gough 75); L Davies, J Donkin, L Gray, S Horsfall; T Barrett, P Woodhead; C Steel, S Graham, M Tampin, R Brown, R Rhodes, A Allen (J Mason 79), C Howick, A Myers (T Wareing 75).