Wharfedale 14 Macclesfield 32: Dale are taught a lesson by relegated visitors

Dale had the advantage of the strong wind and the slope but went in at half-time leading by only one converted try to nil.

Macclesfield showed great strength of character in the first 40 minutes, tackling hard and refusing to buckle.

The visitors came out in the second half and showed Wharfedale how to use the conditions; how to control the ball, how to support the runner and how to run a lineout.

Dale’s lineout started well but fell apart badly in the latter stages whereas Macclesfield’s went from strength to strength.

Wharfedale’s try in the first half was from a poor clearance taken by James Doherty, who put Oliver Cicognini in at the corner. Jamie Guy made light of the conditions and landed the conversion from just inside the touchline.

Max Smith opened the scoring for Macclesfield in the second half and Thomas Eaton’s conversion brought the scores level.

Wharfedale bounced back when Lloyd Davies ran the ball in from 35 metres and added the conversion.

A converted try from Matthew King and two successful penalty kicks from Eaton took the visitors into the lead.

Matthew O’Reagan and Max Smith added two more tries for Macclesfield with Eaton converting the first to give the relegated side a thoroughly deserved bonus-point win.

Sale’s hopes of qualification for next season’s European Champions Cup were dealt a hammer blow as they went down to a surprising 25-23 defeat at London Irish in the Aviva Premiership.

Tom Varndell helped himself to a hat-trick against London Welsh as Wasps won away from home for the first time in 2015.

Exeter moved back into the Aviva Premiership’s top four as they completed a season double over league leaders Northampton.

Saracens powered past play-off rivals Leicester 22-6 at Allianz Park and Harlequins snatched an unlikely 29-26 victory over Gloucester at Twickenham Stoop.