Match Preview

The first match between our two clubs was at Priory Park in February 1996 with Macclesfield having been promoted into North 1 for that season. A very tight match saw Hull Ionians lead 8-0 at half time with a try by centre Mark Swift and drop goal from Ben Medhurst. On 60 minutes Macc scored through their winger John McCreery, Steve Burnage converting to make it 7-8 and with 8 minutes to go winger Richard Iveson scored for Is in the corner. The Blues replied again through their forwards but with both conversions missed a relieved Is won 13-12. The League was equally close with Manchester, Macclesfield and Hull Ionians all winning 10 of their 12 matches and finishing in that order, the first two having lost one, drawn one and Manchester having the better points difference.
The following year league fixtures became home and away matches and Macclesfield Fixture Secretary, the late Alan Johnson, became league secretary and with the internet only in its infancy I had to ring Alan every week with our result as soon as each game finished – life is much easier now.
The clubs met twice a year from 1996 to 2002 then again from 2005 to 2010 when Macclesfield gained promotion to National 1. In 1998 and 2005 we met three times through the Tetley Cup then National Cup games, winning one each. We last met again in 2016/17 when we joined them in National 1, but now both find ourselves enjoying life in National 2 North again.
In total the clubs have played each other 27 times, Hull Ionians winning 15, one drawn and Macclesfield winning 11. Macclesfield have scored more points though, 447 to 431. The closeness of the points difference reflects the closeness of our matches, 13 have been decided by a single score, three of these by a single point!