Having captained us for the past 5 years, Jake Brady made a very welcome return on a one week loan from Darlington MP. It was also Sam Brady’s hundredth cap today and, well as Jake played, it was baby brother Sam who gave a towering performance. A strong cross wind led to difficult playing conditions and both teams are to be congratulated for giving us 80 minutes of high quality, exciting rugby.

Rossendale desperately held out against prolonged Harrogate pressure for 15 minutes until hooker, Aarin Yorke tucked in behind a driving maul to score. The pressure continued, forcing Rossendale to go offside and Luke White’s penalty goal extended the lead. In Rossendale’s first meaningful attack, Harrogate were penalised and Louis Allen kicked what proved to be Rossendale’s only score of the match.

The home forwards and backs were combining well in attack. Centre, Keane Naylor made a welcome return after a 7 months injury absence and ran strongly. The pressure had to tell and No 8, Jonny Coser burst through despairing defence to score Harrogate’s second try. Still more home attacks followed with full back, Andrew Lawson fielding attempted clearances to set up telling counters. Rossendale’s defence went offside in the closing minutes of the half and White’s kick made it 16-3 at the interval.

The second half opened with still more home attacking rugby. Centre. Luke Riddell had come off the bench and his creative play added to Harrogate’s domination. Space was created and Jonny Coser made the extra man for another fine try. Attempted Rossendale counter attacks were well contained and Harrogate’s physical defence forced them into repeated handling mistakes. A well constructed Harrogate attack ended with an excellent Luke Edwards try and White’s touchline conversion made it 28-3.

Increasingly desperate Rossendale defence resulted in them conceding penalties and White’s kick extended the home lead. A stamping offence from 2nd Row, Reece Tomlinson saw him dispatched to the sin bin but Rossendale continued to try and make a game of it. An attacking chip was brilliantly fielded by Harrogate skipper, Danny Matthews but Rossendale regained possession. However they then had the ball stripped off them by Yorke and Harrogate were back in the driving seat. Jake Brady stole a Rossendale line-out, a driving maul followed and Jack Spurr scored the game’s final try.

Harrogate: Lawson, Rosillo, Naylor, Minikin, Edwards, White, Matthews, Butler, Yorke, Ward, J Brady, S Brady, Spurr, G Coser, J Coser. Subs:- Harris, Boyde, Riddell

Rossendale: Nutt, Peel, Strong, Ward, Lindsay, Allen, Bramhall, Walker, Wilkinson, George-Nonyane, Lord, Tomlinson, Robinson, Moon, McKiddin. Subs:- Barker, Singleton, Isherwood.

Referee: Louis Briggs (SE Division)

Match report by Bill Barrack