Vastly superior scrummaging was again their platform with Jake Brady inspiring his team from the 2nd Row. The front row was dominant against their Sale counterparts who included players with recent Premier experience.

A Lewis Minikin penalty gave Harrogate an early lead but, during the first half, they were on the wrong end of some borderline offside decisions and Sale’s Liam McGovern, who kicked faultlessly throughout the match, landed four penalty kicks against one more from Minikin. Early in the second half, an excellent Sale backs move ended with a Jack Moorhouse try and McGovern’s touchline conversion made it 19-6.

Harrogate’s superior fitness then began to tell. Teenage flanker, Guy Coser crashed over to score after a series of driving mauls with Minikin’s touchline conversion making it 19-13. Another McGovern penalty soon made it 22-13 but Harrogate were now upping their game with dazzling back play making good use of well won ball from the pack.

Inventive attacking play from Callum Irvine created dangerous back moves from Harrogate’s youngsters but the next try came from their elder statesman (winger Sam Bottomley is all of 27 years old). He showed pace, power and guile to get past despairing tackles in a 30 metres run on the right.

Attempted Sale counters were well contained by Harrogate’s defence and this included the game’s champagne moment, a great try saving tackle from full back, Charles Morgan. Another nineteen year old, Harry Barnard was a constant threat on the wing and he squeezed out of a tackle to put in an attacking chip over the goal line. Irvine just beat him to the ball to score and another Minikin touchline conversion made it 22-25

Sale: Simpson, Connolly, Moorhouse, Davenport, O’Donnell, McGovern, Dever, Pope, Briggs, Kelly, Davies, Huffman, Postlethwaite, Aigbokhae, Ailes. Subs used:- Flynn, Mayor, Stelmazek, Townsend

Harrogate: Morgan, Bottomley, Minikin, Edwards, Barnard, Irvine, Wickham, Purkiss-McEndoo, Maycock, Reaveley, J Brady, S Brady, J Coser, G Coser, Heaton, Subs used:- Ward, London, Yorke, Boyde.

Referee: Andrew Taylorson (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall