Preston’s Reece Tomlinson was red carded after 15 minutes and their 14 remaining players competed strongly throughout the match. Preston also missed 3 very kickable penalty opportunities which could have put them ahead early in the second half.

Harrogate went for an attacking line-out after Tomlinson’s dismissal and set up a dynamic driving maul from which Willem Enslin powered over to score. From the restart, a Hoppers attempted counter was foiled by an excellent Harrogate turnover and quick hands set up a backs attack. A clever chip into the corner was seized on by Lewis Minnikin and Joe Rowntree’s touchline conversion put Harrogate 12-0 ahead.

Harrogate then came in from the side at a ruck and Lewis Allen’s penalty gave Preston their first points. However, they were then penalised at a scrum and Rowntree’s kick restored the 12 points gap. Almost immediately, it was Harrogate’s turn to give away a scrummage penalty and Allen duly made it 15-6 at half time.

Preston opted to play to their strength and retain their 8 man pack throughout the match and attacked strongly after the interval. They were kept at bay by excellent Harrogate defence in which and his penalty kick put Preston into bonus point territory.

This gap proved to be short lived when Harrogate set up another dynamic driving maul from a line-out and Kerry Woody tucked in to score. Desperate Hoppers defence led to them being repeatedly penalised and a penalty try was eventually awarded against them. The conversion proved to be the final score of the match.

Harrogate: Rowntree, Bottomley, Minikin, Frost, Edwards, Irvine, Matthews, Boyde, Yorke, Reaveley, Brady, Harvey, Wilson, Smith, Enslin. Substitutes (all used) Leadley, Hepworth, Dewsnip, Wood, Audsley-Beck

Preston Grasshoppers: M Murray, Baines, Hurst, Ward, Gargett, Allen, Kindred, Mabaya, Mills, Altham, Tomlinson,
A Murray, Napier, Lees, Taylor. Substitutes (all used) Tuff, McGuiness, Procter, Moulding, Kendall.

Referee: Ryan Smith (Midlands).

Match report by Bill Barrack
Match photos from David Aspinall, Richard Bown and Phil Stewart.