Sedgley Park have a promotion play off next week but went for a different strategy by giving a full strength side a run-out against what was effectively a Harrogate Georgians (2nd team). The Georgians played out of their skins and actually took an early lead before Sedgley upped their game and went into a narrow 6-10 half time lead. Aided by a stronger second half following wind, they ran in 6 more second half tries to win comfortably.

Well organized Harrogate defence kept Sedgley attacks at bay in the first half and Nino Cutino, Tom Larder and Tom White won regular turnovers to set up counter attacks. Charles Morgan had a tidy half at stand-off and kicked two good penalties. Phil Wickham was an industrious scrum half and all the backs featured in well constructed attacking moves. Sedgley’s 1st half tries came from powerhouse centre Matt Riley and their sharp scrum half, Paul Urmston.

Although the floodgates may have seemed to open for Sedgley in the second half, Harrogate’s forwards competed at the set pieces and won several crucial turnovers. Their efforts were handicapped after 56 minutes when Sam Brady was yellow carded and Matt Riley scored two Sedgley Park tries followed by three more from Steve Collins, Andy Riley and Rob Holloway. Matt Riley converted them all along with the game’s final penalty try.

Harrogate: Nesbitt, Aspin, Giles, Lansdall, Audsley-Beck, Morgan, Wickham, Cutino, Larder, Peace, Wilson, Flett, Nwanazia, Yorke, White. Subs:- Maycock, Hamblin, S Brady, Cooke, Chamberlain

Sedgley Park: Holloway, A Riley, Bedlow, M Riley, Strong, Collins, Urmstrong, Ashcroft, West, Misell, Birtwell, Crous, Lloyd, Waddy, Lamprey. Subs:- Warrington, Matthews, Black, McShane, Lowthian

Referee: Jamie Leahy (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall