Stockport played a full part in this entertaining game but the power and skill of the home No8, Harry Hannan, was the difference between the two sides.

The other big feature for Harrogate was the welcome return from injury of wingers Arnie Ellison and Will Heylings. Ellison opened the scoring after Mike Aspinall carved an opening from good line-out ball. A clever chip gave Ellison enough space to split the Stockport defence for a fine try.

More Harrogate pressure followed with powerful Hannan runs scattering Stockport defenders. However a wild Aspinall pass from deep led to a fumble and an offside offence from which Stockport’s Josh Longmore kicked a penalty. This spurred the visitors on and their powerful scrummaging forced Harrogate to concede a penalty from which Longmore kicked them into the lead.

Scintillating attacking play from Harrogate then forced Stockport into going offside and, with advantage being played, an Aspinall drop goal restored the home lead. Aspinall initiated still more inventive Harrogate attacks with powerful forward drives creating space for their incisive backs. With half time looming, Stockport went offside and Aspinall’s penalty made it 11-6 at the break.

From the restart, Hannan again drove strongly through the midfield and a succession of Harrogate attacks followed. However, Stockport were awarded a number of penalty kicks to relieve the pressure and a clever Longmore chip ahead forced Harrogate to carry the ball over their goal line. From the subsequent scrum, Stockport drove strongly and Jordan Pearson crashed over to equalise the scores.

A period of Harrogate domination followed which forced Stockport into conceding two penalties to make the score 17-11. Hannan again powered through Stockport’s midfield and released the ball to Aspinall who danced through the remaining defenders for a converted try at the end of normal time.

Stockport refused to concede and centre, Mike Bayssat, took advantage of a feeble attempted midfield tackle to score a converted try to bring them within 1 score of Harrogate. However, the home side held out against more late visiting pressure.

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall