Their error strewn performance was in marked contrast to a solid Bromsgrove effort. The visitors’ drives consistently broke tackles and their excellent ball retention was the key to a well deserved win.

Harrogate attacked from the kick off with a series of creative looking moves but, in a harbinger of what was to come, the ball was spilled and Bromsgrove hacked on to put pressure on Harrogate’s line. The home team strayed offside and James Curgenven kicked his first good penalty of the match. He almost immediately made it 0-6 with yet another fine kick after a further Harrogate offside offence.

Harrogate’s first serious chance followed when Phil Wickham set up a fine backs move. Toby Quarendon & Pete Lucock combined well to give Matt Roberts space on the left wing. His attacking chip was cleverly covered and cleared by Curgenven and the danger passed. Harrogate then set up their best driving maul of the match and Joe Maud drove over from the rear to gain what proved to be a short lived lead.

The pattern of Bromsgrove forward dominance had now been well established. Their back row, well organized by the powerful Drew Harper, made consistent inroads and Harrogate flattered to deceive with promising half breaks which usually ended with a handling error. After a period of battering at the Harrogate line, Bromsgrove spun the ball wide for John Critchlow to extend their lead with a try in the in the corner.

As half time approached, Harrogate continued to attack and spurned a kickable penalty to go for an attacking line-out. The ball was quickly recycled to the opposite wing but a knock-on lost them a seemingly certain try.

The pattern of driving Bromsgrove play continued after the interval but Harrogate tackled solidly and Wickham broke sharply from defence and put in a clearing line kick. Still more Bromsgrove drives followed and Harper burst through some feeble tackling to score. Curgenven converted from the touchline and then punished a Harrogate “hands in the loose” offence with another penalty. Though they were living off scraps, still more Harrogate backs attacks followed accompanied by still more handling errors.

Harrogate’s line-out had been their most secure source of ball but they then had a long throw stolen and conceded a penalty in trying to defend the Bromsgrove counter attack. Despite their scrum being under pressure, Bromsgrove got the ball away to winger Warren Oliver who split the Harrogate defence to score.

Harrogate did manage a consolation try on the stroke of full time. This came from a sustained handling move which, for once, didn’t end with an error. Matt Roberts took the scoring pass at speed on the left wing and dived over in the corner.

Harrogate: Smithies, Roberts,Quarendon, Lucock, Bannister, Carmichael, Wickham, Browne, Yorke, Fraser, J Brady, S Brady, Wilson, Heaton, Maud.

Bromsgrove: Critchlow, Bastock, Lloyd-Jones, Wilson, Oliver, Curgenven, Stockholm, Blackburn, Glenn, Salisbury, Shipway, Cooper, McGregor, Warren, Harper

Referee: Marcus Caton (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack

Photos by Richard Bown and Mark Fletcher