Wharfedale’s powerful pack exerted pressure from the start and turnover ball led to flanker Dan Solomi sprinting through a midfield gap to score under the posts and gesture triumphantly to the crowd. Jamie Guy’s conversion made it 0-7 and the battle was on.

Harrogate’s pack began to weather the storm and win their share of ball in the tight. In loose play, Harrogate’s outstanding back row of Jonny Coser, Kerry Wood and Willem Enslin scavenged successfully. Creative play from half backs Danny Matthews and Callum Irvine set up increasingly dangerous back moves with skilful passing being stiffened by thunderous tackling from Kyle Dench and Sam Bottomley.

Fifteen minutes into the game, Harrogate’s Sam Brady was yellow carded for a late tackle on Wharfedale scrum half James Doherty. Unfortunately, Doherty’s injury meant that he was unable to continue. A driving maul from an attacking line-out led to an Irvine break and another maul was set up. Wharfedale came in from the side and Irvine’s penalty kick opened Harrogate’s account. Excellent Harrogate forward ball retention was creating more attacking opportunities but offside offences gave Wharfedale two kickable penalty opportunities which were both missed.

Guy also had an unsuccessful drop goal attempt and a further Dale attack was thwarted by a devastating Bottomley tackle. They went offside from the subsequent ruck and Irvine’s penalty kick closed the gap further. A Harrogate strike against the head led to a counter attack but Irvine was tackled high and late by Josh Burridge who was sent to the sin bin. Irvine cleared his head, steadied his nerves and kicked Harrogate into a 9-7 half time lead.

From the restart, Harrogate forward power play kept the Dale back row tied down with Enslin repeatedly breaking through their cover. Dench and Cam Leadley initiated a midfield backs attack, Lewis Minikin came into the line and gave a well weighted pass to Luke Edwards. Edwards stiil had plenty to do but a dazzling side step took him clear to sprint clear for a fine converted try.

Wharfedale were still very much in the game and set up a series of driving mauls on Harrogate’s line. Wood was penalised and sin binned for coming in from the side and Dale set up another driving maul from which Burridge drove over to score. Harrogate seemed to be the fitter side and their pack began to put scrum pressure on Wharfedale. A long, well controlled driving maul took the ball over the goal line and, though a try seemed certain, the referee decided that the ball had been held up.

In the last move of the match, Wharfedale winger, Taylor Prell showed astonishing pace in a counter attack but was finally tackled, the match was over and the Harrogate celebrations began.

Harrogate: L Minikin, Bottomley, Leadley, Dench, Edwards, Irvine (Rowntree 75), Matthews, Stuffins, Yorke, Reaveley, J Brady, S Brady, Coser, Wood, Enslin

Wharfedale: Hodgson, Davies, Morgan, Hudson, Prell, Guy, Doherty, Beesley, Stockdale, Armstrong, Howard, Willett, Barnard, Solomi, Burridge.

Referee: Pete Stentiford (North)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by Richard Bown and David Aspinall

Match report courtesy of The Harrogate Advertiser

And see what Mike Aspinall had to say after the match