Stourbridge demonstrated their power by running up 24 points in the first half from four tries and two conversions but, following a wholesale replacement of five players soon after half time Harrogate stepped up to match Stourbridge and won the second half 7 - 0.

Harrogate started brightly and spent the first ten minutes of the game in the Stourbridge half with Captain Jake Brady, No. 8 Tim Heaton and second row Rob Johnson leading the way in the forwards.

Kyle Dench, Sam Bottomley and new recruit Barry Frost continued to find gaps in the backs but when the tackles came Harrogate knew they were playing in a higher league.

The new boys acquitted themselves well with the Minikin brothers and Barry Frost showing their potential.

Harrogate man of the match, scrum half, Phil Wickham settled into the higher standard of rugby straight away and performed brilliantly around the scrum.

Stourbridge’s greater physicality in all areas allowed their backs to create overlaps which led to three of their tries from Farrington, Shillingford and Bressington with the forwards creating the fourth try for Uzoigwe.

A yellow card for hooker Aarin Yorke reduced Harrogate to fourteen men with six minutes of the half remaining.

Despite the 24 - 0 scoreline Harrogate were very much in this game and with the five replacements early in the second half they showed that they are more than ready to compete in this league.

Stourbridge seemed short of ideas and were relying on their superior physical strength. Harrogate continued to snipe close to the scrum with Wickham showing the way and with the backs continuing to find the gaps and provide close support the second half was an even contest.

Eventually, replacement fly half, Callum Irvine, broke through the tiring Stourbridge tacklers just inside their half and outstripped the defence for a well deserved try which he converted himself.

Stourbridge Saxonx Team: Matt Farrington, Jamie Hearn, Stefan Shillingford, Ben Barkley, Nathan Bressington, Gary Dipple, Peter White, Michael Hill, Dale Garner, Mark George, Nile Dacres, Robbie Hurrell(Captain), Nigel Mukarati, Ejike Uzoigwe, James Rodley.

Replacements: Sione Tu’ipulotu, Jordan Page, Kyle Garner, Scott Wright.

Harrogate Team: Lewis Minikin, Sam Bottomley, Kyle Dench, Barry Frost, Noel Minikin, Joe Rowntree, PHil Wickham, Andy Boyde, Aarin Yorke, Ben Reavley, Jake Brady(Captain), Rob Johnson, Nathan Smith, Rob Adair, Tim Heaton.

Replacements: Steve Maycock, Dom Musetti, Chris Wilson, Ed Mazlaveckas, Callum Irvine.

Report by Brian Forshaw
Photos by David Aspinall