Harrogate clinch record triumph after Wappett's words backfire

Harrogate registered a record ninth successive league victory in their final home against the promotion favourites.

They were fired up by visiting coach Geoff Wappett's comment that Macclesfield would win the League if they beat Loughborough the following week, obviously assuming that victory at Harrogate was a foregone conclusion.

Visiting flanker Evan Stewart was soon yellow-carded for taking a man out in mid-air and Jamie Broadley chipped ahead for Kyle Dench to gather and score in the corner for Harrogate.

Broadley also created the second try for Steve Parsons, whose strength and pace took him over, and the third for Ed Smithie, who gave Harrogate a 15-0 half- time lead.

Ryan Peacey was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock on and Macclesfield flanker Dan Baines touched down but Ross Winney's conversion was charged down by Parsons.

Macclesfield scored 14 more points during Peacey's absence to go 19-15 ahead with tries from centre Tony Hawcroft and the outstanding Stewart.

Macclesfield's fourth try was scored by replacement forward Chris Jones but Harrogate were not to be denied. Replacement hooker Harry Hannan straightened an attack and Parsons squeezed in for his second try and then took a hanging kick from Mike Aspinallfor his hat-trick.

Fifteen minutes of normal time remained and Macclesfield continued to attack. However, the Harrogate forwards gave a textbook display of driving mauls and ball retention to hang on to the narrowest of leads.

Flanker Ed Maslaveckas took the man-of-the-match award for for his tireless pace, commitment and skill.

Kendal 17

Bradford & Bingley 18

The Bees kept alive their survival hopes when veteran stand-off Mike Scott was off target with his shot at goal at the death.

The Bees had only just gone in front when Steve Brimacombe slotted a penalty with three minutes remaining.

The Bees should have been out of sight after an opening period where the home side were run ragged. Brimacombe crossed in the fifth minute but Kendal replied through James Gough.

Second-row Richard Hughes saw his try converted by Brimacombe, who added a penalty which was matched by Scott.

The second half saw the Bees back-pedalling and they conceded a penalty try converted by Scott on 46 minutes edged Kendal in front.

The game remained evenly balanced but it was Brimacombe who held his nerve to claim the victory in the closing minutes.