Harrogate v Thirsk U15s

Harrogate U15 headed off to the races on Sunday to take on a much improved Thirsk side, since the last encounter between the two sides last season. With the sun in the air and an autumn chill to remind spectators that winter was around the corner Harrogate took the field for the first round match.

Harrogate looked nervous in the opening encounters and, even though they made ground through direct driving play from the forwards, unforced errors let Thirsk off the hook time and again. Although after 5 minutes the visitors began to take a grip on the match through aggressive pressure defence. Forcing a rushed Thirsk kick out of their own 22 Centre Dominic Marsh took the loose kick and, standing strong in the tackle, fed the ball to his inside centre, Ollie Collingwood who went over for the first score.

Five minutes later a similar situation saw the home side running the ball out of defence only for Harry Fewkes and David Rowbotham to cut off the attack and turn over the ball. Rowbotham then drove the ball down the pitch before off-loading in the tackle to Alistair Cameron Jones to speed in to the right hand corner. As with the first try there was no converstion so after 10 minutes the score stood at 10 - 0 to Harrogate.

Getting into their stride Harrogate were quickly back on to the offensive and, two minutes after the last score, a swift movement of the ball from the left to right hand-side of the field found Marsh and Cameron-Jones who combined to penetrate through the Thirsk defence. Caught short by the Thirsk defence the ball emerged quickly from the ruck and Brad Thompson set off on another of his direct runs through the heart of the defence to go over for the third try of the half.

The first half finished with one more try this time initiated by Josh Wilson who, stealing a Thirsk throw at a lineout, set off towards the home teams line. Showing a nice side-step or three Josh drove the ball up towards the line only to be held back some 6m short. Quick ruck ball and fast hands by the Harrogate backs put Cameron-Jones in for his second score fo the game over in the right corner.

With the half -time whistle the score of 20-0 was good to see but with so many un-forced errors in the overall play the coaches knew that Thirsk could easily come back in teh second half. Harrogate had to tighten up on their ball control and maintain their composure in the first 10 minutes of the second half to take the game and that was exactly what they did!

Following the first half template the first score of the second half came from a pressure defence situation. Althlough they were defending Harrogate drove Thirsk back and a desperate kick out of their own 22 was collected and driven back by Thompson for some 60m before he was finally tackled. Quick ball from the ruck set up the backs and some neat interplay between Harry Fewkes and Marsh saw the outside Centre cut through the home defence to go in under the posts. A conversion by Jack London took the score to 27 - 0

Maintaining the pressure Harrogate went in again two minutes later when, from the kick-off after the previous score by Marsh, was collected by Rory Cardwell and, from the resultant Maul, David Rowbotham emerged with the ball. No whether he intended to run the 60m to the try-line when he set off is unclear but it was an impressive solo try for an easy kick at goal... however the conversion went wide so the lead only stood at 32 - 0.

Now almost scoring at will Harrogate cranked up the pace of the game and three minutes later Marsh went in again, off a switch with Fewkes, to run a direct and cutting line to take the score up to 37 - 0. Then came a series of debut tries from the bench!

With Thirsk fringing at the break down a penalty awarded to Harrogate on their 10m line was taken quickly by scrum-half Tom Mitchell who fed Nathan Kemeny to drive the ball up into the Thirsk frowards. Taking the tackle Nathan stood his ground and, turning to make the ball available, passed the ball to Patrick Knutson. Showing that Robo was not the only forward with pace, Patrick set off up the left hand touchline, outpacing all the Thirsk defenders he went 55m to go in for his first try for the club, taking the score up to 42 - 0.

Not wanting to be out done winger Alistair Flint grabbed his first try for the club. Following a drive up the middle of the pitch by Lozza Hargreaves the ball was moved to the left by Mitchell and Fewkes for Flint to cut through the home defence for his first of the season. Not to be out done Nathan Kemeny, having initiated Partick's try got back into the act after Marsh and Flint combined to move the ball up the pitch and, supporting like all good forwards, Kemeny drove over for the final score.

52 - 0 was the final recorded score and a good all round performance from all 22 players used. Attention now turns to next weeks friendly with West Park Leeds before the club finds out who they have in the next round of the Cup.