Macclesfield 38, Preston Grasshoppers 26: Hoppers unable to claw their way back into game
Preston Grasshoppers spent most of the match chasing on their trip to Macclesfield.
Always behind in the score, Hoppers ultimately fell to a 38-26 defeat
After some enterprising opening play by both sides, Macclesfield's centre Harry Oliver opened his team's account by converting his own try after 15 minutes, following a defensive lapse by the visitors.
Very shortly afterwards, Preston's full back Sam Freeman similarly converted his own try, which came from a rolling maul and wide pass.
Two further converted tries by Macclesfield pushed the score to 21-7 by the half hour, but the visitors were to have the last words of the first half, with two tries of their own, one of which was converted.
The second half began with a Macclesfield penalty for a high tackle, and a kick to touch at Hoppers' 22 metre line.
A winning line out and drive through the centre gave the home side another try between the posts, with a successful conversion.
Harry Oliver took his opportunity to take a three point penalty, for a 31-19 point lead at 53 minutes.
10 minutes later Macclesfield succeeded with a further converted try and 19 point lead.
Sam Freeman converted Owain Williams' try on 65 minutes which gave the final score of the game at 38 points to 26 to the home side.
The rest of the match demonstrated the visitors' hard work was to be in vain as their search of a losing bonus point was denied when they had a disallowed try in the dying minutes of the game.
Nevertheless, Hoppers' head coach Dan Orwin praised his players for their hard work and tenacity.