Two talented sets of backs treated the crowd to some exhilarating running rugby but it was Harrogate’s well organized defence together with superior scrummaging which won them the day. An additional favourable factor was the enthusiastic vocal support from Harrogate’s touring U14s who’d played Chester that morning.

Harrogate made an early attack from deep but conceded a scrum when a wild pass led to a knock on. However, the front row of George Stuffins, Aarin Yorke and Ben Reaveley then won Chester’s scrum against the head to set their stall out for the afternoon. Four minutes into the game, Reaveley won a midfield turnover and fed lock Andy Boyde who made a powerful run and gave Callum Irvine a beautifully timed scoring pass. Irvine’s touchline conversion made it 0-7.

An even 10 minutes spell followed with Rhys Hayes and Tom Foden launching Chester attacks but scrum half, Danny Matthews broke strongly from defence and the move was carried on by Lewis Minikin, Luke Edwards and Sam Bottomley. Harrogate then won another scrum against the head and a backs attack was stopped near the Chester line. From the ensuing driving maul, flanker, Kerry Wood drove over to score.

A high tackle by Hayes on Harrogate’s Kyle Dench led to Dench being replaced by Cam Leadley and Hayes being dispatched to the sin bin. Matthews, Irvine and Wood launched a Harrogate attack from inside their 22 but a spectacular one handed knock-on lost them possession. Chester countered with a series of driving mauls and Tom Foden darted through to score under the posts. Astonishingly, the attempted conversion failed.

Chester launched more attacks on the Harrogate line but, although the defence conceded penalties, they held out until Bottomley took what was probably a “team binning”. The forwards pressure continued till the ball was eventually released wide and centre John Ketland burst through to score and make it 10-12 at the interval

After an even 15 minutes, Chester’s Kyle Joseph was sin binned for holding and Irvine’s penalty increased the Harrogate lead. Harrogate went into overdrive and continued pressure on the Chester line led to Willem Enslin powering his way over in the corner and another excellent Irvine touchline conversion put Harrogate 10-22 ahead.

Chester have made several spectacular recoveries this season and mounted repeated attacks. Harrogate continued to defend well with Jonny Coser well to the fore but they were handicapped when replacement flanker, Noel Minikin was sin binned. Harrogate were then penalised for coming in from the side and the Chester penalty led to an attacking line out. Clean ball was released and centre Max Himbury scored a converted try to make it 17-22. This turned out to be the final score though there was one further incident leading to Chester prop Gavin Woods being sin binned for violent play.

Chester: Green, Ross, Himbury, Foden, Ketland, Hayes, Walsh, Woods, Farrell, Bevan, Gregorey, White, Wishnowsky, Craven, Ford. Subs (all used) Turnbull, Bown, Joseph, Williams, Preston

Harrogate: L Minikin, Bottomley, Edwards, Dench, Morland, Irvine, Matthews, Stuffins, Yorke, Reaveley, Brady, Boyde, Coser, Wood, Enslin. Subs (all Used) Nyemba, Johnson, Minikin, Leadley, Rowntree

Referee: Andrew Rawson (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall