Scunthorpe vs Harrogate

Alex Thomas’s empathetic refereeing contributed significantly. The result saw Harrogate edge further away from the relegation zone with Scunthorpe hovering dangerously near the brink.

Scunthorpe opened with waves of controlled attacking rugby and flanker, James Dyson broke strongly. Harrogate went offside at the ensuing breakdown and Steve Johnson’s penalty put the hosts ahead. Both packs continued to slug it out at close quarters with Harrogate winning a succession of good turnovers. Hooker, Aarin Yorke snatched on a loose ball, made an electric 30 metres break but was stopped just short of the goal line. An attacking driving maul followed and Jake Brady crashed over to put Harrogate ahead.

A period of Scunthorpe forward pressure followed and they set up a driving maul from an attacking line-out. Dyson squeezed through to score and regain Scunthorpe’s lead. Then came the try of the match. Harry Barnard fielded a Scunthorpe clearance just inside their half and accelerated away from an attempted tackle. His pace and power then took him through the home defence for a stunning 40 metres try converted by David Doherty.

As half time approached, Scunthorpe set up an attacking driving maul but play was stopped because of a head injury to Harrogate’s prop, Connor Ward. He left the field after a lengthy delay, Scunthorpe were awarded an attacking scrum and No8, Jake Barron picked up at the back and scored to put them 15-12 ahead at the break.

Harrogate went up a gear after the interval and sustained pressure forced handling errors from Scunthorpe. Dominant Harrogate scrummaging led to Scunthorpe being penalised and Doherty’s kick evened the score. More of the same followed and, after another home scrum offence, a quickly taken Danny Matthews free kick led to Scunthorpe coming in at the side at a breakdown. The Doherty penalty put Harrogate ahead and proved to be the game’s final score.

However, this was by no means the end of the match. Scunthorpe mounted a succession of attacks which forced Harrogate into conceding penalties. No8, Tim Heaton took a “team yellow card” which gave Scunthorpe the chance of a straightforward equalising penalty goal. However, Harrogate now had only 7 forwards remaining so Scunthorpe opted for an attacking scrum. The 7 man pack resisted strongly forcing Scunthorpe to spin the ball and a knock-on ended the match.

Scunthorpe: Vanner, Morgan, Parker, Johnson, Chapman, Foster, Middeth, Myjalchuk, Mist, Cole, Syddal,
N Dyson, Dibden, J Dyson, Barron. Subs:- Elliot, Garbutt, Hughes, Barnes, Badley

Harrogate: Doherty, Barnard, Naylor, Minikin, Rosillo, Fox, Matthews, Purkiss-McEndoo, Yorke, Ward, J Brady,
S Brady, J Coser, G Coser, Heaton. Subs:- Dennis, Maycock, Harvey, Edwards, Morecombe.

Referee: Alex Thomas (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack