The second half, which finished 5 minutes early, was a more scrappy affair but Dudley K never gave up and, inspired by 2nd row Nick Murphy, competed strongly throughout the match.

Harrogate mounted backs attacks from the start but handling mistakes denied them a score until flanker Noel Minikin crashed over from a driving maul. Joe Rowntree converted.

Shortly afterwards, a strong Steve Parsons run was well supported by Sam Bottomley and Rowntree again converted to make it 14-0 after 15 minutes.

The home attacking pattern followed and Aarin Yorke tucked in behind a driving maul for the next try.

A DK counter attack was judged to have been stopped illegally and Bottomley was despatched to the sin bin.

The ball was spread left from the penalty and winger Liam Marshall scored a good try converted by Gareth Bown.

Chris Wilson then stole a DK line-out ball and the ball was fed to Parsons who powered through to score a converted try from 30 metres.

From the restart, a dazzling Callum Irvine break was carried on by Parsons and Rowntree. Bottomley, who’d returned to the fray, burst through for his second converted try.

DK continued to compete but were well contained by Harrogate’s defence.

Another powerful Parsons run set up Harrogate’s final try. Harry Parrish showed speed and tenacity in support for the game’s final score.

Harrogate: Rowntree (Audsley-Beck 51), Parsons, Edwards, Bottomley, Parrish, Irvine, Wickham (Matthews 51), Metcalfe (Reaveley 45), Yorke (Dutton 45), Browne, Brady (Johnson 51), Wilson, Smith,
N Minikin, Heaton

Dudley Kingswinford: B Brown, Smile (Smitherman 66), Bown, Sheppard (J Brown 60), Marshall, Pinches, Jones, Richards (Newell61), Parry, Murphy, Hawkins, Squires, Tideswell

Referee: Brendan Fitzmaurice (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall