However, they lost several crucial lines-out and, although they conceded 3 yellow cards, strong Scunthorpe defence kept Harrogate’s backs at bay. Most significantly, Scunthorpe’s Steve Johnson kicked faultlessly throughout the match to land 6 penalty goals, 3 of them from inside their half.

An early Harrogate offside offence led to Scunthorpe’s first penalty score and, minutes later, Johnson further punished them for a holding offence on the half way line. A series of attacking Harrogate scrums followed from which Scunthorpe were repeatedly penalised. Harrogate opted for scrums from these penalties and Scunthorpe’s Will Robinson was eventually sin binned. The pressure continued, the referee’s patience ran out and a penalty try, converted by Charlie Morgan, put Harrogate 7-6 ahead. Still more Harrogate forward dominance followed but a driving maul was penalised inside their half and Johnson kicked Scunthorpe ahead again. As half time loomed, Harrogate again went offside in attack and another towering Johnson kick made it 7-12 at the interval.

The same pattern continued after the re-start and Scunthorpe were penalised for an early tackle from a quickly taken penalty. Guy Mychaljuk was duly dispatched to the bin but Scunthorpe then won a crucial turnover followed by a long clearance kick and Harrogate went offside in the loose. Inevitably, Johnson’s kick made the score 7-15. More Harrogate driving mauls followed and Tim Heaton crashed over to score. Morgan’s conversion from wide made it 14-15 but a Harrogate scrum was soon penalised and Johnson’s kick put Scunthorpe 14-18 ahead.

Harrogate continued to attack but, although Scunthorpe’s Gareth Mist became their 3rd player to be sin binned their doughty defence held out to give them a well deserved win.

Harrogate: Morgan, Barnard, Nesbitt, Minikin, Edwards, Davies, Matthews, Ward, Maycock, Dennis, J Brady,
S Brady, J Coser, G Coser, Heaton. Subs:- Yorke, Reaveley, Enslin, Sanderson, Hebblethwaite.

Scunthorpe: Chapman, Cook, Wood, Johnson, Robinson, Foster, Hughes, Mychajluk, Mist, Cole, Dyson, Garbutt, Barron, Dibden, Syddall. Subs:- Coultard, Bournes, Badley, Parker, Newsum

Referee: Ben Davies (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack