Harrogate take the win in the first of two Yorkshire derbies

With a huge West Park Leeds match pending at the weekend, it was important for Harrogate Ladies to get a win when they met South Yorkshire rivals, Barnsley. That they did though, under rough and tough conditions and denying Barnsley a single try. The final score was 10-3, with Barnsley’s 3 coming from a tremendous penalty kick at the sticks.

Barnsley kicked off, right into the hands of prop, Amber Barnicoat. Scrum half, Freya Wilde was right there with her teammate and grubber kicked through, pushing her team deep into Barnsley’s half of the pitch in the opening stages.

Barnsley used their strength in the forwards to reply, steadily pushing back at the Harrogate defence. Charlotte Warriner responded with a huge hit causing a knock on and subsequent Harrogate scrum.

The home side showed their strength in the scrum, allowing the ball to move from Wilde to Rose Jay at fly half and to Lauren Bolger in the centre. A penalty was conceded before it went out wide though and Barnsley kicked for touch.

Their line out was wasted though and won by Barnicoat who charged through before the ball went loose and winger, Anna Hamilton managed to retrieve and recycle it. A number of consecutive scrums followed, with Harrogate showing dominance resulting in Barnsley attempting attack from their try line.

Barnsley tactically tried the blind side after their next scrum but run straight into Warriner who forced the visitors into touch with a little support. Though the following line out was executed well by Maisie Barnett the ball was lost a little further into the field and Barnsley had another go at the scrum. Barnsley made some ground off the back of this, using their strength to make it past half way for the first time.

Soon the ball was back with the home side and Bolger hit her line hard in the centre, slipping past the first line of Barnsley defence and getting caught at the last hurdle. Harrogate kept the ball, playing the phases safely with Annie Lyles and Chrissie Pratt edging closer to the try line.

Barnsley were solid in defence, making it exceptionally hard for Harrogate to break through and touch down and get their hands back on the ball, after forcing a Harrogate error.

Before the visitors had chance to make too much ground they were met with a huge hit from Tilly Churm, stopping them in their tracks. After Barnsley won another penalty, they kicked to touch and were in Harrogate’s 22 for the first time that match. They are pushed back by the Harrogate defence but win a penalty just before half way and have a go at the sticks.

The Barnsley kick is perfectly placed putting them 3 points up with half-time in sight.

This gave Harrogate the kick they needed and soon the forwards were on the rampage. Foster and Bolger teamed up in the centre to make some ground and Captain Jay was nearly through before being taken down. The ball was looked after though and Hamilton pushed her way past the defence and was in on the wing.

The conversion was unsuccessful and the score was tight, at 5-3 just before the half-time whistle blew.

Harrogate were back on the attack soon after the second half kicked off. Churm looked dangerous with ball in hand and passed through to the centres to make the distance. Jay danced through when she got the ball but Barnsley managed to win the ball back, although not for long.

Harrogate were in under the sticks. The scrum was dominated allowing Jay and Churm to work their magic before Bolger crossed the whitewash. The wind caused havoc for the kick and the score was 10-3.

Barnsley tried to kick for touch following their penalty but it didn’t quite make the side line. Sophie Wilson was there to receive but is taken down high and it’s a Harrogate penalty. Jay and Wilde combined, making head way before Wilde was tackled down by her hair.

Barnsley were back with the ball, they kicked to relieve pressure but Bolger was there to retrieve it. She offloaded to Wilson in the tackle before Foster got her hands on it.

Ruth Fewster-Neale and Olivia Almond made their way onto the pitch to give Foster and Clarkson a well-earned rest.

The game soon became fractious and a card a piece was given to the teams, bringing it down to 14 vs 14 for the last 5 minutes.

Final score 10-3 to Harrogate.

This weekend sees Harrogate’s last game before the Christmas break and sees them play a league deciding game against West Park Leeds. The game promises to be a spectacle after a close loss to the West Yorkshire rivals last time. Kick-off is at 12:30 this Saturday at West Park Leeds with a £2.00 charge on the gate.