In the event, they put on their worst performance of the season. They had 70% of the 1st half possession but, with clinical efficiency, Preston scored almost every time they got into the Harrogate 22. Preston increasingly dominated In the second half but strong Harrogate defence prevented them from scoring and the visitors were awarded a penalty try in a late incursion.

Harrogate opened with their customary attacking play. Willem Enslin was put into space on the left by a long Callum Irvine pass and ran strongly. However, in a foretaste of things to come, the final pass went astray. More Harrogate handling errors followed, a Preston attacking kick ahead went dead but they mounted another attack from the 22 drop out. Centre, Billy Woof carved a hole in Harrogate’s defence and gave a scoring pass to flanker Andrew Napier. Lewis Allen’s conversion made it 7-0, totally against the run of play.

The Harrogate pack continued to deliver good ball with Enslin and Jonny Coser to the fore but the midfiled errors continued. Kerry Wood orchestrated a driving maul from an attacking line-out and drove over to score and make it 7-5. However, a Harrogate offside offence then led to a Preston attacking line-out. Flanker, Ally Murray won the ball, burst through Harrogate’s line and several more defenders for a 20 metres converted try. In the final move of the half, Harrogate were adjudged to have offended at a home driving maul and Preston were awarded a penalty try.

Preston spent large periods of the second half camped on the Harrogate line but heroic defence kept them out. Scrum-half, Danny Matthews’s tackling was outstanding against much bigger men. Promising Harrogate turnovers were thwarted by continued handling mistakes. In almost the last move of the match, Harrogate set up another well controlled driving 30 metres driving maul. Preston prevented the score by pulling down illegally and a penalty try was awarded.

Preston Grasshoppers: Jordan, Baines, Russell, Woof, O’Donnell, Allen, Kindred, McGuiness, Mills, Altham, Tomlinson, Banks, A Murray, Napier, Taylor. Subs (all used) Wilkinson, Madden, Morton, Lees, M Murray

Harrogate: Rowntree, Bottomley, Minikin, Dench, Parrish, Irvine, Matthews, Boyde, Yorke, Reaveley, Brady, Harvey, Coser, Wood, Enslin. Subs (all used) Nyemba, Kirkley, Dewsnip, Morland, Edwards.

Referee: Karl Kirkpatrick (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall