However, Fylde competed strongly throughout and were in serious contention until the last 2 minutes of normal time. Two late tries then saw Harrogate run away with the match.

Harrogate’s first try came when winger, Jamie Broadley supported a well constructed back move. Showing strength and guile, he left Nick Royle, Fylde’s international 7s full back, for dead to score a try converted by Mike Aspinall. Harrogate knocked on Fylde’s restart and the visitors used the possession to set up a series of driving mauls from which Alistair Atkinson touched down. Twelve points had been scored in the opening 4 minutes.

An even period of play followed but the Harrogate backs, well orchestrated by Aspinall, looked the more dangerous. However it was a forward, No8 Ryan Peacey, who eventually supported a Chris Harris run to extend the home lead with a fine try.

Harrogate continued to impress in attack but they also had to defend solidly against Fylde’s attempted counters. Excellent turnover ball set up another slick backs move and Ed Smithies made the overlap to score in the corner. Aspinall’s control had been instrumental in setting up this try and he also put the icing on the cake with a touchline conversion.

A Mike Waywell penalty gave the visitors a morale boosting 3 points but, on the stroke of half time, a smartly taken Aspinall drop goal made it 22-8 at the interval.

Both teams strove to gain the initiative after the break and it was Fylde who scored first when Waywell supported a Royle inspired backs move to break through some loose tackling and touch down. His conversion brought Fylde to within 7 points of Harrogate. A turnaround seemed distinctly possible especially since Harrogate had also lost the influential Peacey in this incident. He had to retire with a nasty head cut.

For the next 30 minutes, Fylde took full advantage of some favourable refereeing decisions to mount consistent attacks. However, the home defence held firm and, with time running out, a Steve Parsons break was supported by Harris. Replacement hooker, Aarin Yorke, took the scoring pass at speed for a converted try which earned the bonus point.

Fylde attempted a counter attack from deep but the ball was spilled and Smithies hacked on for Harris to pick up and score. This put the result beyond doubt but Fylde continued to attack. In the last move of the match, they spurned a kickable penalty to go for another try. However, they again failed to breach the home defence.

Harrogate: Smithies, Broadley (Bottomley 40), Parsons, Dench, Harris, Aspinall, Wickham (D Davies 63), Sowerey, Spackman (Yorke 65), Browne (S Daves 77), Brady, M Lewis, Harland, Maslaveckas, Peacey (Spencer 48)

Fylde: Royle, Gargett, Hurst, Ward, Hart, Waywell, Aikman, A Lewis, Roddam, Altham, Banks, Atkinson, Smith, Stephenson, Beaumont.

Referee: Brendan Fitzmaurice (RFU)