After an even start, Harrogate went offside in defence and the penalty led to a driving maul from an attacking line-out. Second Row, Joe Makin drove over to score a try converted by Isaac Green. Minutes later, it was Makin’s partner, Joe Sanders’ turn to score a converted try from another driving maul.

Enterprising Harrogate back play then tested the home defence with well supported Lewis Minikin and Sam Bottomley breaks. Ionians counter attacked and, when Harrogate “came in from the side”, Green’s penalty extended the home lead. The Harrogate pack then got their dander up and set up a succession of dynamic driving mauls. The Ionians desperate defence led to them conceding penalties but, although there were stern lectures, there were no yellow cards. The Harrogate pressure continued and Willem Enslin crashed over to score with Joe Rowntree’s touchline conversion making it 17-7. Just before the interval, a Harrogate line-out offence was immediately punished and Tom Harvey was dispatched to the sin bin.

Hull attacked from the restart, trying to exploit their numerical advantage but Harrogate’s well organized defence held out. Callum Irvine counter attacked from deep and his jinking run was well supported by Bottomley. Irvine himself took the scoring pass in the corner and cut inside to score near the posts to make his own conversion a formality.

Harrogate’s impressive scrummaging had featured strongly with young Lewis Boyce coping well with Ionians’ experienced tight head, Steve Johnson. Ben Reaveley had also packed down effectively on the other side so it was a surprise that the next score came from the home pack driving Harrogate 15 metres backwards. This took play to Harrogate’s line and they conceded a converted penalty try. Hull attacks continued and created a gap for winger Jon Steel to squeeze over for the game’s final score.

However, the game was far from over and Harrogate attacked for the remaining 15 minutes. Substitute scrum half, Phil Wickham raised Harrogate’s attacking tempo and Aarin Yorke was unlucky not to score from a kick through and chase for the line. Creative back play split the home defence in the game’s last move and, though a try seemed certain, Harrogate were penalised for crossing.

Hull Ionians: Bateman, Slingsby, Reakes, Barker, Steel, Ferguson, Green, Quigley, Thomson, Johnson, Makin, Sanders, Torkington, Cowen, Hague. Subs (all used) Rice, Denham, Kench, Thomas, Martin

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

Referee: Will Halford (RFU)

Match Report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall