An excellent Luke Edwards aerial take set up early Harrogate attacks but the Luctonians defence held out against powerful running from Kyle Dench, Sam Bottomley and Cam Leadley. Good Harrogate scrummaging had the visitors under pressure though it unfortunately didn’t always satisfy the referee’s law interpretation. The pressure eventually forced Lucs to go offside and Callum Irvine’s penalty kicked Harrogate into an early lead.

A big Sam Brady break took play into the Lucs 22 but the supporting player knocked on what would have been a scoring pass. Harrogate were penalised at the ensuing scrum and Lucs set up driving mauls from which scrum half, Sam Boxhall drove over to put them ahead. The Harrogate attacks continued and an Irvine chip kick was seized on by Kerry Wood whose try restored the home lead. Dench was then yellow carded for a “hands in” offence and Geraint Langdon’s penalty evened the score.

Luctonians immediately counter attacked and set up an attacking driving maul after a Harrogate high tackle was penalised. Winger, Frank Kelly squeezed over in the corner to give the visitors an 8-13 half time lead.

Luctonians extended their lead early in the 2nd half after Harrogate made a mess of the restart kick. Full back Joe Doyle ran strongly to create a gap and Jimmy Norris was in support to score a converted try. Jake Brady then stole a Luctonians line-out to set up Harrogate driving mauls and his brother Sam was on hand to burst through and score under the posts. Lewis Minikin and Irvine then linked well to create another Harrogate attack and it was again Sam Brady who put Harrogate ahead by driving over wide out.

Driven on by their vocal travelling support, Luctonians were spurred on to more attacks but the Harrogate defence held out till they were penalised in front of goal. Langdon’s kick bounced back into play but Harrogate knocked on and, when they went offside again, Langdon made no mistake with his second attempt and Lucs went 22-23 ahead.

A Harrogate attempted attack out of defence ended when an ill judged kick was charged down and Norris followed up well to make it 22-30 with a converted try. Harrogate attacked concertedly for the rest of the game, the ball went through several pairs of hands and Bottomley crashed over to score. Still more Harrogate attacks had the Lucs’ supporters’ hearts in their mouths but their defence held out for a well deserved win.

Harrogate: L Minikin. Bottomley, Leadley, Dench, Edwards, Irvine, Matthews, Stuffins, Yorke, Reaveley, J Brady, S Brady, Coser, Wood, Wilson. Subs:- Nyemba, Cutino, N Minikin, Parrish, Wickham

Luctonians: Doyle, F Kelly, Burton, Langdon, Norris, James, Boxhall, Watkins, Street,
R Jones, Jaques, J Kelly, Cheasley, Hackley, S Jones. Subs:- Marfell, Davies, Kirkby, Smith, Knight.

Referee: Will Halford (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack
Photos by David Aspinall