A solid forward platform delivered quality ball throughout the game and the talented backs took full advantage. Preston came back strongly in the later stages of the match but Harrogate had enough in the bank to win comfortably.

Straight from the kick off, a Harrogate midfield fumble led to Preston hacking through and their centre, Tom Hughes seemed to have scored. However, he was penalised for being in front of the kicker and Harrogate survived. Minutes later, scored with clinical efficiency following a powerful 10 metre forward drive and James Rothwell’s conversion put the home side 7-0 ahead. A dominant scrum kept the Hoppers on the back foot and Harrogate also stole several crucial line-outs from them.

The next score came from another powerful driving maul and flanker, Kerry Wood, broke clear to break through the defence and touch down in the corner. Mike Aspinall continued to orchestrate back attacks and then made a scintillating individual break. The powerful Kyle Dench supported well to score Harrogate’s next try. Preston then got their first score from a Mark Edwards penalty after a Harrogate offside offence

Harrrogate’s bonus point try came shortly after the interval and it was that man Wood again who tucked in at the end of yet another driving maul. The home pressure continued with Jimmy Browne, Gareth Lodge & Tim Heaton powering through and flanker, Chris Wilson, prominent in all phases of the game. A Preston hands in offence then gave Rothwell a further 3 penalty points and the floodgates seemed to be about to open.

However, a succession of substitutions changed the shape of the game and Preston’s young side never gave up. Harrogate had to defend their line strongly but Preston pressure earned them a succession of attacking drives from which hooker Richie Sands scored a well deserved try.

The final 20 minutes of the match were very evenly contested but, although Preston played a full part in this, Harrogate always looked to be the more potent attackers. Tempers became a bit frayed at various stages but Mr Sheard’s sound game management kept everything under control and the game was keenly contested right up to to the final whistle.

Harrogate: Smithies (Almond 63). Rothwell, Dench, Bottomley, Broadley, Aspinall, Bugge, Browne, Maycock (Weaving 67), Tampin (Fraser 59), Brady, Lodge, Wilson, Wood (Enston 51), Heaton

Preston Grasshoppers: Taylor, M Hughes, T Hughes, Halliwell, White, Edwards, Ball, Chadwick, Sands, Irvine, Steel Rigbye, Cunningham, Bordill, Charters

Referee: Rob Sheard (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack

Photos by David Aspinall