An early Stourbridge scrum offence gave Harrogate a penalty and they went for touch and an attacking line-out. Stourbridge stole the line-out and the attacking opportunity was lost. Soon afterwards, Harrogate set up an attack after stealing Stourbridge line-out ball and set up enterprising attacks. However, they were then penalised for coming in from the side at a breakdown and Gareth Bown’s kick put the visitors ahead.

Stourbridge then put pressure on a Harrogate scrum but No8 Tim Heaton showed great control at the back and initiated another home attack. Fellow back rowers, Willem Enslin and Kerry Wood completed an effective scavenging unit who thwarted several Stourbridge attacks and eventually drove over for No8, Chris Depper to touch down and Bown’s conversion made it 0-10.

More Harrogate attacks followed from the restart and, when Stourbridge went offside, Callum Irvine’s penalty made it 3-10. Chris Wilson’s late withdrawal because of illness had limited Harrogate’s 2nd Row options and the problem was worsened when Joe Watson’s game was ended by a nasty ankle injury after he’d won a crucial defensive line-out.

The first half pattern continued after the interval. Harrogate’s well organized defence repelled repeated Stourbridge attacks. Inventive play from half backs Danny Matthews and Irvine quickly turned defence into attacks which were well supported by their talented back division. An outstanding Irvine break from defence took play up to the visitors’ and a period of home pressure followed.

It was the Stourbridge’s turn to camp on the Harrogate line and they won a penalty try after a collapsed scrum. Bown’s conversion put them 6-17 ahead. Harrogate continued to mount attacks and replacement back Mike Aspinall made a telling break from defence. Irvine carried the move on and kicked to the right corner where flanker Noel Minikin was on hand to touch down. More Harrogate attacks followed and a winning try seemed to be on the cards. However, a knock on from a promising scoring position allowed Stourbridge to recover.

Stourbridge were awarded a couple of kickable penalties in the dying minutes but both attempts narrowly missed.

Harrogate: L Minikin, Leadley, Dench, Edwards, Frost, Irvine, Matthews, Boyde, Nyemba, Reaveley,
J Brady, Watson, Enslin, Wood, Heaton. Replacements (all used):- Metcalfe, N Minikin, Cutino, Audsley-Beck & Aspinall

Stourbridge: Jarvis, Cooksammy, Shillingford, Barkley, Hearn, Bown, Tuipuluto, Blackburn, Garner, George, Hughes, Moore, Mukarati, Uzowige, Depper. Replacements (all used) :- Higgins, Harper, Hurrell, Sturdy & Lea

Referee: Graham Dickens (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack