Their final try was scored as stoppage time approached and, from then on, they were camped on the Stourbridge line to deny the visitors any chance of an equalising score.

From the start, a Harrogate turnover led to a 50 metres Harry Barnard break but he was tackled just short of the goal line. More Harrogate forward pressure followed and quickly released ball led to a 30th birthday try from David Doherty. Sam Fox’s touchline conversion made it 7-0 after 4 minutes.

Stourbridge’s response was immediate. A strong Will Hollis break was well supported by Dan Rundle who scored an equalising converted try. This spurred them but they were well contained by a strong Harrogate defence, epitomised by bone crunching tackles from pocket battleship scrum half, Danny Matthews.

The rest of the half followed the same pattern with Harrogate defence containing Stourbridge attempted attacks and Stourbridge holding firm against Harrogate. Harrogate’s back row, inspired by a towering Tim Heaton performance at No8 snuffed out Stourbridge’s power play and the home front was increasingly dominant as the game progressed.

Stourbridge attacked strongly after the half time break but failed to breach the home defence. They were penalised for coming in from the side and this gave Harrogate an attacking line-out. Quick ball led to a Keane Naylor break and a pass to Barnard whose strength took him through a massed defence for a converted try.

Replacement prop, Ben Reavely won Harrogate good turnover ball from a Stourbridge driving maul but they went offside at the breakdown to give Stourbridge an attacking line-out. Their driving maul resulted in a Stefan Thorpe try but the missed conversion kept Harrogate narrowly ahead. Another penalty gave Stourbridge an attacking line-out but a squint throw denied them what proved to be their last chance to take the lead.

The final try came from quick Harrogate scrum ball. A well worked backs move led to a Doherty break and a well judged pass to put Olly Rosillo in for the game’s final try.

Harrogate: Doherty, Barnard, Naylor, Minikin, Rosillo, Fox, Matthews, Purkiss-McEndoo, Ward, J Brady, S Brady,
J Coser, G Coser, Heaton. Subs:-- Reaveley, Maycock,Harvey, Nesbitt, Hebblethwaite

Stourbridge: Petty, Rundle, Hartley, Hollis, Bridger, White, Hall, Harrison, Wilkes, George, Depper, Murphy, Mukarati, Harding, Moore. Subs:- Thorpe, Thorne, Munro, Tillsley, Scott

Referee: Mick Harris (RFU).

Match report by Bill Barrack