Broadstreet vs Harrogate

The original game had been weathered off but this springtime match was played in driving rain with a bitterly cold wind.

After an even start, Harrogate were further weakened by the departure of flanker, Steve Hewetson with a serious knee injury. A searching line kick from Ed Smithies then led to a defensive Broadstreet lineout, 5 metres out. Ryan Peacey stole the ball from the back of the line and drove over to score a try, converted by Joe Rowntree.

Harrogate then nearly scored again, this time from an attacking lineout. Prop, Simon Davies made a trademark burst through the home defence but dropped the ball in the process of touching down. However, from the ensuing 5 metres scrum, Harrogate drove the Broadstreet pack backwards and fellow prop, Jimmy Browne broke through to score. Rowntree’s touchline conversion made it 0-14 after 15 minutes.

Davies is retiring from this level of rugby so it was his last match for Harrogate. He subsequently claimed that he’d dropped the ball deliberately so that Browne could score his first try of the season but the jury is out on that one.

Broadstreet then got into attacking mode to test the Harrogate defence over a 10 minute period. A clever chip through was gathered at pace by winger Dan Phillips who scored with Danny Richards adding the conversion. The home pressure continued and, after a series of driving mauls, Toby Handley, their powerful scrum half dived through the pack to score. Richards’ attempted conversion bounced back off the upright so the try proved to be Broadstreet’s final score of the match.

Harrogate’s lineout then went through a dysfunctional period and several attacking opportunities went begging. A powerful 40 metres Peacey run seemed certain to set up a try but a bad knock-on in the centre ended the move.

The weather deteriorated even further in the second half and more handling errors crept into Harrogate’s game. However, they set up a driving maul from a line-out and Peacey powered over for his second and the game’s last try.

The remaining 25 minutes didn’t produce much memorable rugby but Harrogate’s performance, in a “dead rubber” match, epitomised the absolutely tremendous team spirit that we’ve seen all season. Difficult off the pitch circumstances have made this a very tricky season for Harrogate but the team has responded magnificently under Ed Smithes’ captaincy. The player/coaching duo, Mike Aspinall & Ryan Peacey, has produced a thrilling style of rugby though they’ll be the first to recognise the backroom support they’ve had from the support team, headed by Graham Siswick.

After the game, the news came through of Yorkshire victories in both the Senior and U 20 matches. Harrogate players had made significant contributions to both these wins so the team was able to celebrate still more.

Broadstreet: Pudge, Rochester, Simpson, Challis, Phillips, Handley, Dawes, Truslove, Tatlow, Went, Rook, Mukarati, Morris, Hersey.

Harrogate: Smithies, Rowntree, Bottomley, McGee (Hardy 20), Harris, S Davies (Hart 72), Wickham, Browne, Hannan, S Davies (Reaveley 60), Spencer, Wilson, Maslaveckas, Hewetson (Enston 7 then Spackman 55), Peacey

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)