The very pleasant parkland setting of Priory Park could not disguise the very Mancunian weather i.e overcast, grey, wet and cold, as Macclesfield kicked off for the first meeting between the clubs for many years. For York, Sam Forbes was now missing, adding to the already growing injury list of Maud, Hessay, Goulding, Frank, not forgetting the long term injury to Rob Hodges. That said, York took the kick off well and Cusack made good ground down to the Macc 22m line. The home side could not get clear and Cusack was again accurate, finding touch some 5m out. York took the lineout and attacked in midfield before sending winger Taylor driving towards the corner where only desperate defence saw him forced into the flag.

In the early stages York were dominating territory and possession, but after 10 minutes they were penalised at the first scrum allowing Macc to get into the York half for the first time. However normal service resumed quickly with a steepling Cusack kick bringing a knock on and further York pressure. The wet ball continued to make flowing play difficult and the game became very much stop start. Against the run of play the home winger broke clear but was sinbinned as he, leading with his forearm, attempted to run through full back Davies. Luckily no damage was done and York took advantage of the ensuing penalty to gain territory before Cusack chipped through for winger Taylor to cross for a well worked try. Cusack converted. (0-7).

York were now in full cry and the 14 man home side seriously stretched, so much so that No 6 Oliver was penalised for a high tackle and was red carded. Pressing to take advantage winger Elliot made a good break and fed skipper White but the York support failed to secure the ball and another opportunity went abegging. However, in the 38th minute a big York scrummage gained a penalty which Cusack converted. (0-10). With the half almost gone, Cusack converted a further penalty from all of 45 m. (0-13). Now, in the first half injury time, Macclesfield found a penalty touch within the York 22 and established a strong rolling maul to score an unconverted try in the corner. (5-13). This was not the first time this season York have succumbed to the rolling maul and it gave the home side, who had been dominated for large parts of the game, a spring in their step as they headed for the dressing room.

On the resumption after an early exchange of kicks, Cusack found a good touch in the home 22, which Macc failed to clear properly. This gave York’s young guns a chance to thrust forward in successive waves before feeding scrum half Atkin who scampered over near the corner. Cusack’s conversion attempt, which was very hurried due to a missing tee, slipped wide of target. (5-18).

There had been changes to the York line up, Enslin for Stockton, Dent for Elliot, both injuries and also the dominant scrummager, Scholey was given a breather with Westaby’s introduction, and whether this unsettled the York patterns of play or not, the balance of the match began to change. York were penalised for offside and the home side went for the corner. The inevitable rolling maul was held but by spreading the ball from that dominant position, Macc drove over near the posts for a try which No 10 Davies converted. (12-18). York were now under real pressure and although a good tactical kick from Cusack saw the home defence knock on, at the resulting scrum, York were penalised and the pressure resumed. As often happens when pressure is exerted, penalties follow penalties and York were again penalised for holding on and Macc again went into the corner. From the rolling maul, prop Wilman drove over, converted by Davies. (19-18).

20 minutes to go and York attempted to get onto the front foot but knocked on after some good driving play. However, the home side were penalised at the scrum and Cusack obliged. (19-21). Play was getting a little scrappy, but Cusack once again engineered a gem of a ball which saw Dent and Atkinson in behind the home defence only for the ball to bounce unluckily over the dead ball line.

York were being penalised fairly regularly and after failing to get back 10m after one such award, Cusack was sin binned ( for the team ) and No 10 Davies put the home side ahead once more.(22-21). York finally seemed to find their mojo and really tore into the Macc defence only to forward pass twice in quick succession at vital moments and to be penalised again for a scrum infringement. Even when Cusack returned with the last few minutes remaining York’s discipline let them down and the game was lost.

One bonus point is scant reward when four were there for the taking. Hopefully the lessons will be learned!