Harrogate Ladies 26 vs 26 Sunderland Ladies

Watched by an enthusiastic crowd including Harrogate Head Coach Mike Aspinall, both sides played entertaining running rugby.

Sunderland squandered the game’s first chance when their speedy winger Becky Robson was in the clear and lost the ball only 15 metres from the line.

Sustained Harrogate pressure, going through several phases put Captain Laura Symmonds over to give them the lead, converted by Gemma Webster.

Sunderland made a quickly reply from the restart when Jenny Snowden scored out wide for an unconverted try.

Both sides were keeping the ball in hands, and strong running Harrogate centre Casey Brockway pounced on a loose ball to force her way over for a try, converted by Webster.

Soon after scrum half Lindy Johnston showed great pace to race over from 30 metres for a try converted by Webster.

Just before halftime Centre Kirsty Patterson scored near the posts for Sunderland, converted by Katie White to make it 19-12 to ’Gate at half-time.

A second try from Brockway converted by Webster looked to have sealed the game for ‘Gate, but Sunderland continued to play with great spirit and late tries by Patterson and Becky Robson, both converted by White made the final score 26-26, and in the end a draw was no less than either side deserved for their efforts in tricky conditions.

Harrogate: L. Symmonds, S. Mokler, K. Davidson, A. Lambert, K. Rushton, C. Thomson, N. Revell, L. Johnston, G. Webster, K. Ray, J. Vosper, C. Brockway, S. Netherwood

Sunderland: A. Stonehouse, L. Robson, E. Hanson, A. Hilton, K. Fraser, D. Andrew, S. Bennett, J. Snowden, K. White, L. Henderson, K. Patterson, J. Fraser, B. Robson