Taking on the Green Machine

After the sun that shone down on Yorkshire on Saturday Harrogate U15s headed up to the dales to take on Wharfedale's green machine. Last year Harrogate were handed a lesson in power play rugby with the Dalesman steam-rollering over the visitors.

Following a couple of indifferent performances Harrogate approaches Threshfield with rain threatening to make the game a little of a lottery. Greasy conditions underfoot and a slippy ball were to make handling difficult for both teams and the one who controlled the ball the best would, in the end, come out the winner.

After some early exchanges Wharfedale hit first moving the ball to the left from a ruck on the right hand touch-line. Slick handling by Wharfedale and missed tackles by Harrogate in the midfield allowed the greens to break through. Stretching the visitors defence cover defence by Jack London was not enough to halt the first try. Converting from the touch line Wharfedate took a 7 - 0 lead.

Stepping up their play, taking control of the second phase play, Harrogate took control of the game winning posseession and moving down the pitch. Reflecting the contidions the visitors kept the ball tight and the driving play opened up gaps out wide. Quick handling and strong running by Elliot Bloodworth and Alistair Cameron-Jones made the initial break through. Quick support by David Rowbothom who drove the ball down the right of the pitch. Quick recycling set up the backs and Dominic Marsh saw the the drifting Wharfe backs and cut back through to score the first points. With a conversion by Harry Fewkes making the game all level 7 - 7.

Now in control Harrogate were soon back on the attack. With possession secured from a mid-field ruck 'Gate moved the ball to the left through Jack London and Alistair Cameron-Jones before Luke Gair was given room to open up. Speeding down the wing Gair fought off the initial tacklers taking the ball up close to the Wharfedale line. Stopped short he stood strong in the tackle before feeding Cameron-Jones who had supported his winger. Going over in the corner for the try Cameron-Jones took the visitors into the lead for the first time 7 - 12.

However the missed conversion meant that Harrogate were unable to stretch their lead.

Ringing the changes Harrogate took their foot of the gas and Wharfedale took full advantage. Applying pressure Wharfedale turned the screw and pouncing on a lack of concentration to drive through the Harrogate line-out to score the visitors second try. A successful conversion allowed the home team to take a 14 - 12 lead.

A missed Penalty by Harrogate left the score with Wharfedale defending a narrow lead. Harrogate strook again through Luke Gair this time finishing off a strike down the left wing, out pacing his opponent and fending off the Wharfedale full-back Gair sped in after dancing around a couple of players to get nearer the posts. Harry Fewkes converting to move Harrogate back into the lead to retake the lead 14 - 19.

With the pressure on Harrogate looked to hold on to the lead in the last 2 minutes but laspes in tackling by the visitors allowed Wharfedale to exploit gaps in the Harrogate defence to go over for a match winning score.

Final result 21 - 19