ANOTHER top drawer performance from Tynedale saw them become the first side this season to secure a four try bonus point at table-topping Macclesfield.

Two tries from man of the moment prop Ben Haigh, another from lock Ben Bell and a welcome appearance on the score sheet for centre Jack Harrison made sure Tynedale did not return from Priory Park empty handed.

Getting within seven points of the run-away leaders brought a second bonus point, and praise from the Macclesfield head coach Giles Heagerty, who said: “Tynedale are in a hell of a fight at the minute, and you could see the determination they had. They put us to the sword and played well late on to get something from the game.”

Tynedale were trailing 21-0 after 25 minutes, and by 33-14 with seven minutes left, but produced a grandstand finish to reap a rich reward.

They did slip one place down the table, swapping places with SAle FC, but have maintained a health gap between themselves and the drop zone.

In the continued absence of regular locks Graeme Dunn and Jonny Cousin through injury, Ben Bell and Scott Powell took the second row slots, with Dicky Hall starting in the back row with the excellent Stuart Johnson and Nick Cairns.

It was good to see Alex Westgarth join the fray from the bench on the hour, and even better to see Matty Charters come on for the second half, after a long injury lay off. 

Tynedale and Macclesfield were relegated together at the end of last season, but while Tynedale have taken half a season to get their act together, the team from Treacle Town are odds on favourites to bounce straight back again.   

They lead the table by a massive 15 points, having won 15 of their 18 league games so far, and early on, they looked likely to sweep Tynedale aside, as they had done when the two sides met at Corbridge in September.

Macclesfield rely heavily on their big and mobile pack, and it was the forwards who opened the scoring on 11 minutes when a driving maul ended with number eight Ryan Parkinson touching down for the first of his three tries, with fly half Tom Eaton adding the extras.

The lead was doubled soon after when a good break saw winger Rhodri Mayor slip the ball inside for centre Elliot Brierley to dart in  under the posts for another converted try.

On 25 minutes, lock Dave Marwick crashed over from close range following more forward pressure, and Tynedale found themselves 21-0 in little more than even time. 

However, Tynedale refused to lie down, and staged a spirited rally towards the end of the half which saw lock Ben Bell batter his way over the line, Ash Smith converting to make it 21-7 at the break.

Rollerball Ben Haigh made the picture look even brighter at the start of the second half, when he roared over for a fine try, which Smith converted to make the scoreline even more interesting.

However, the Tynedale revival came off the rails when blond bombshell Will Miller went in for a tackle without the use of his arms, and was given 10 minutes in the sin bin to reflect on acceptable tackling techniques.

Tynedale‘s rhythm was disrupted, and Macclesfield bounced back into the game, Parkinson going over for his bonus-point winning second try on 68 minutes, which Eaton converted, and then completing his hat-trick five minutes later, following good work from skipper Mike Finnemore.

That took the score to 33-14, but Tynedale still had plenty of fuel in the tank. They regained the initiative, and on 76 minutes, centre Jack Harrison weaved his way in for an unconverted try for 33-19.

And with the final play of the game, Haigh powered in for his second, which Smith converted, to secure two vital bonus points.

The tough games keep coming for Tynedale, as fourth placed Caldy provide the opposition this weekend.

The side from the Wirral lie fourth in the league, and put 40 points on against Tynedale in the reverse fixture reverse fixture.

They are one of only three teams to have beaten league leaders Macclesfield this season, but Tynedale themselves are no pushovers, tested the sides in first and second places in the league all the way in recent games.

The game will once again take place at Kingston Park, by courtesy of Newcastle Falcons, but will have a 3pm kick-off, rather than an evening start.

Admission will once again be way of donations to the Tynedale flood appeal.