No8, Willem Enslin’s return from overseas business commitments made a big difference and 4 players had been promoted from Harrogate’s successful 2nd Team. All played well and fully justified their selections.

Harrogate exerted pressure from the start and the first 20 minutes’ play was almost entirely in Huddersfield’s half. A straightforward penalty miss only gave temporary respite to the visitors and debutant flanker Tom White was in support of prolonged forward pressure to score.

A sharp break from Huddersfield winger, Tom Kanouras sparked an attacking move but his support went offside to return possession to Harrogate. Barry Frost’s midfield break then split Huddersfield’s defence but he was tackled just short of the goal line. Hooker, Steve Maycock who returned after a 2 year injury absence was at the heart of much good home work with along with telling contributions from open-side Guy Coser and the youthful lock, Sam Thomas. The pressure forced Huddersfield into a run of offside offences and Austen Thompson was eventually yellow carded. Lewis Minikin’s penalty kick put Harrogate 8-0 ahead

A Harrogate clearing kick went straight into touch giving Huddersfield an attacking line-out from which Harrogate went offside. Chris Bell’s penalty opened Huddersfield’s account but Harrogate soon extended their lead with a converted try from a scintillating 40 metres Callum Irvine break. It became 20-3 at half time when Jonny Giles supported a Minikin break and gave him a scoring return pass.

Though still under pressure, Huddersfield mounted second half counter attacks which became more effective when Maycock was yellow carded. A driving maul followed the penalty from which Adam Malthouse drove over to score. Harrogate skipper, Jake Brady inspired his pack to raise their game still further and Enslin made several telling bursts after Guy Coser turnovers. Any doubts about the result vanished when a wild punch resulted in a red card for Huddersfield’s Adam Tamanis. Minikin attacked from deep after a Huddersfield clearance missed touch and gathered his own kick ahead and score under the posts.

The match ended a few minutes early following an unfortunate clash of heads between Bell and another Huddersfield player. Bell’s apparently serious injury led to him being taken away by ambulance though this was probably (and hopefully) just a precautionary measure.

Harrogate: Frost, Parrish, Minikin, Giles, Edwards, Irvine, Matthews, Purkiss-McEndoo, Maycock, Reaveley, Brady, Thomas, White, G Coser, Wnslin. Subs (all used) Larder, Ward, Boyde, J Coser, Audsley-Beck

Huddersfield: Workman, Kanouras, Hodson, Owen, Knight, Bell, Jeffrey, Battye, Walker, Sanderson, Thompson, Malthouse, Parfitt, Hoyle, Sharpe. Subs (all used) Rhodes, Hinchcliffe, Tamanis, Bills, Bradley.

Referee: Claire Hodnett (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall