However, South Leicester then upped their game and their forwards won enough ball for the better penetration of their backs to make the telling difference.

Harrogate’s scrum dominated the early proceedings and there were strong driving runs from Willem Enslin, Connor Ward and Will Dennis. Moves broke down from consistent handling errors till Leicester went off side in defence and Charlie Morgan’s kick put Harrogate 3-0 ahead. A loose Harrogate kick ahead was then gathered by Leicester’s Ryan Hough whose powerful break was supported by full back, Calum Gunn and Rickie Aley’s conversion made it 3-7.

Sam Brady and Jonny Coser drove strongly after stealing a Leicester line-out and, when the visitors went offside, Morgan’s penalty reduced the deficit to 6-7 after half an hour. An even period of play followed till a Harrogate strike against the head gave quick ball to Luke Edwards who zipped through the Leicester defence for a converted, under the posts try.

The Leicester second half restart went straight into touch and another Edwards break put pressure on the visitors’ goal line. Leicester cleared their line but a Noel Minikin break, supported by Sam Brady kept the home momentum up. Leicester’s defence went offside and another Morgan penalty made it 16-7. This was as good as it got for Harrogate and some loose defence led to a converted Gareth Clarke try.

Harrogate continued to attack from increasingly limited possession with Captain, Jake Brady making a welcome return from the bench after an injury lay-off. A Harrogate scrum was then penalised and Aley’s kick put Leicester 16-17 ahead. The next try came from a “trade mark” Aley cross kick which was gathered at pace by Gareth Turner and converted by Aley. It was then Aley who rubbed still more salt into Harrogate’s wounds with a well taken, long range drop goal.

Continued Leicester pressure on Harrogate’s line was well defended until they were penalised for coming in from the side. A driving maul followed the attacking line-out and Turner crashed over for his second converted try.

Harrogate: Barnard, Giles, Nesbitt, Minikin, Edwards, Morgan, Matthews, C Ward, Maycock, Dennis, Harvey, S Brady, J Coser, G Coser, Enslin. Subs:- Cutino, Reaveley, J Brady, Brougham, Wickham

South Leicester: Gunn, G Clarke, Cave, Priestner, Hough, Aley, Shaw, McNaughton, Ager, Holford, Wolfenden, W Ward, Gibbons, N Clarke, Turner. Subs:- Gibbs, Murray, Cope, Warren, Cheney.

Referee: Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack