AFTER suffering three narrow league defeats it was Hoppers' turn to edge home by just two points thanks to a magnificent touchline conversion by Paul Bailey a minute from the final whistle.
They had to dig deep to earn this victory because for most of the game they were on the back foot.
Even so they scored four tries to the visitors' single effort. Getting on the wrong side of the referee did not help as Macclesfield's five penalties and penalty try indicate.
First half tries by Oliver Viney and Michael Lough kept Hoppers in touch at half-time but they were still 10-16 adrift.
When this increased to 10-22 going into the final quarter prospects looked bleak.
A resurgence prompted by replacements Michael Bailey and Dave Chadwick, however, brought a second try to Viney and in the final minute to Stuart Silvester.
Paul Bailey who converted Viney's try produced a last great effort to take the spoils.
Hoppers travel to the North East on Saturday to meet newly pomoted Darlington.
Final score: Grasshoppers 22
Macclesfield 20
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