The errors were not confined to the players and the game opened with Mr Taylor failing to spot that the Pocklington kick-off hadn’t gone 10 metres. A penalty was awarded to Pocklington but Guy Coser won turnover ball and Harrogate counter attacked. Luke White gathered a clearance and put in an attacking chip to the corner but was blatantly tripped as he tried to follow up. Home full back, Jonty Peters was dispatched to the sin bin, Harrogate set up a driving maul from the subsequent attacking line-out and Steve Maycock drove over to score.

Pocklington’s restart kick again failed to go 10 metres but, this time, the mistake was spotted. A period of Harrogate attacks followed, usually ended by occasionally understandable penalty decisions against them. Full back, Andrew Lawson gathered a clearance kick, seared through Pock’s defence, gathered his chip ahead and scored a spectacular try converted by White. Shortly afterwards, Lawson fell awkwardly when tackled and had to leave the field with an ankle injury.

Another penalty was awarded against Harrogate resulting in an attacking Pocklington line-out but Martin Dodds stole the ball, Harrogate counter attacked but were penalised again. Harrogate’s back play had been littered by handling errors but a classy threequarters try followed. An incisive Keane Naylor break was well supported by Noel Minikin and Luke Edwards was on hand to take the final pass for a converted try. Pocklington responded with a series of attacks which were well defended till Harrogate went offside and Jonty Peters’ successful penalty kick ended the half.

From the restart, Pocklington went on the offensive. Scrum half, Rob Watts put his hands in the back row of a Harrogate scrum to try to poach the ball and this, somehow, resulted in another penalty against Harrogate. Pocklington attacked from the quickly taken penalty and Jonty Peters, villain turned hero, sprinted through to score.

Harrogate forwards and backs combined well to mount continued pressure with a Minikin break being taken on powerfully by Dodds. A driving maul for the Pocklington line followed which resulted in a penalty and a Harrogate bonus point. Still more Harrogate pressure followed with Pocklington unable to cope with their well constructed driving mauls. Quick ball was delivered to Minikin in midfield, 45 metres from the goal line. Without a hand being laid on him. he danced through the home defence for a spectacular individual converted try. All the Harrogate backs were involved in their sixth try. Skillful handling gave the ball to Oli Rosillo whose guile and pace took him through the to score. White’s conversion followed.

Showing tremendous spirit, Pocklington threw everything at Harrogate in the time remaining and came close to earning a losing bonus point. Centre, Tom Peters burst through the middle for a fine try and, when Harrogate counter attacked, Jonty Peters intercepted a wild pass to score again and convert. The Pocklington Peters contingent scored a ll their 20 points as well as receiving their team’s yellow card.

It was a day for Harrogate debutants to make their marks. Props Evan Woodworth and Uran Jerlija played the whole 80 minutes and second row, Harry Johnson made an impressive impact when coming off the bench. All Harrogate’s thoughts are focused on Stuart Young who is seriously ill in hospital but John Butler deputised for him in filming the match and sang impressively on the coach journey home.

Pocklington:`J Peters, Thoy, Hardy, Flint, Walters, Elliot, Watts, Garvey, Rankin, Fothergill, T Peters, Archer, Wagstaff, Durkin, Holbrough. Subs:- Rees, Davison, Morton

Harrogate: Lawson, Rosillo, Naylor, Minikin, Edwards, White, Matthews, Woodworth, Maycock, Jerlija, Dodds, Brady, Spurr, G Coser, J Coser. Subs:- Johnson, Boyde, Riddell.

Referee: Elliott Lewis (Northern Division)

Match report by Bill Barrack