Harrogate meet much improved Middlesborough

Harrogate’s second outing of the season resulted in a rapid dose of reality being dealt by visitors Middlesbrough. Riding a weave following a comprehensive victory over Billingham last week the Teesside club ventured south to face a Harrogate team, themselves, on the bounce since overcoming local rivals Ripon in week one.

Harrogate's preparation was clearly lacking something as Middlesbrough hit the ground running with quick ball and aggressive play at the tack area. features of the home sides performance but lacking this week Middlesbrough were able to control the game and dominate the second phase.

For some 20 minutes the home team had left their tackling, rucking and collective drive back in the changing rooms and were knocked back by a tidal wave of power and drive from the visitors. Taking two early tries and one conversation inside the first 10 minutes Middlesbrough exposed the attempted tackles from the home team and relished playing rugby on the front foot as their quick second phase ball gave them an easy ride.

Towards the end of the half Harrogate, shocked into play by the Middlesbrough onslaught, started to show glimpses of what they are capable of and began to compete. Halting the one way traffic the home team restricted the free-scoring visitors to only one more score in the first half with the score 19 - 0 to Middlesbrough at the interval.

While Harrogate started the second half energised, with greater purpose and with flashes of the play the side is clearly capable of, Middlesbrough took first blood in the second half with three missed tackles allowing them to move into a 26 - 0 lead. Now into the game Harrogate began to take the game to the visitors and challenge them at the breakdown and quick ruck ball by the forwards was moved from the base by Tom Mitchell out to Harry Fewkes and Dominic Marsh who fed Luke Gair with an early pass. Still with a fair bit of work to do Gair got outside his opposite player and then collided with the Middlesbrough Fullback who was sent flying by the impact. Gair then sped to the line before driving through the final defender to score, although being winded in the process he touched down to score the home sides first try.

Now into the game Harrogate continued to play some pressure rugby which led to their second try with Tom Brennan going in after a move started by Josh Smith taking the ball up the middle of the field. Quick ball allowed Tom Mitchell to feed Dominic Marsh who danced his way through the visiting defence line before feeding Olli Ward, in his first game for the club, before receiving a return pass to feed Brennan who went over in the right corner.