Rugby Lions gave top-of-the-table Macclesfield a big start which gave them nothing but pride to play for as the depleted home side fought back to reach half time in a reasonably respectable position that had looked unlikely after three early Blues tries.

It looked like Lions might be overwhelmed when Macclesfield scored in the 2nd, 9th and 16th minutes.

Rugby seemed to have no answer to the powerful forward play of the Blues with relatively giant figures Chris Jones (twice) and Martin Kent able to drive through what looked comparatively token Lions defensive tackles.

Rugby’s would-be tacklers were simply knocked aside by the force of prop Kent’s run as if it really was a men against boys contest.

In Ross Winney, Macclesfield had one of the classiest players at National 2 level and he converted all three tries from different angles to leave his side 0-21 ahead and in a position to run amok just as they had in running up 100 points at Waterloo earlier this year.

But Lions, although missing skipper Alex Nash, fought their way back into the game, first with two Lloyd Warner penalties.

Lions were then rocked by Macc’s fourth converted try, scored by one of the Blues’ renowned back row Evan Stewart, to secure their bonus point with less than half an hour played.

But before the interval, Lions produced a fine move through the backs which was completed by Tom Harris’s try on the left converted by Warner for an encouragingly better 13-28 at half time.

Rugby then continued to give Macclesfield a good contest through a scoreless third quarter despite losing Karl Braband on 44 minutes to a cut after a clash of heads with Macc winger Josh Fowles.

Lions’ relatively very small forwards held out a still-committed Macclesfield side until after the hour mark when Winney added a penalty for 13-31.

Inevitably, the Rugby defensive effort was likely to falter towards the end of such a tiring game and Macclesfield added two late tries from Winney and no. 8 Jon Keep, with Winney converting one of them from a somewhat flattering final score of 13-43 as his team remain at the top of the table and head towards a crucial clash with Loughborough University.

Lions are limping towards the end of the season with some debilitating injuries taking the edge off their game as they come up again and again against packs that are much bigger and stronger than they can field but so far they have always been able to hold their heads up after every game with the commitment they have shown against the odds.