Harrogate 34 v Scunthorpe 0

Harrogate 34 Scunthorpe 0
Saturday 27 January 2024

Having had their 2 previous home games postponed because of adverse conditions, Harrogate’s first game of 2024 took place on an extremely heavy pitch.

As a result, much of the early play was very attritional and any kicking just saw the ball hitting the deck and stopping. Nonetheless, after 15 minutes, Scunthorpe was held up just short of the Gate line, before Gate replied 5 minutes later when, with Pete Olley having stripped the ball from the scrum-half, they were unable to drive over.

Things changed in the 27th minute. Kodie Brook broke through and was caught just short of the try-line, leading to Scunthorpe receiving a yellow card. From the resulting penalty, Tom Steene scored in the left-hand corner. However, with underfoot conditions not being conducive to place kicking, the conversion was missed.

With a numerical advantage, Gate took the play to Scunthorpe and was rewarded in the 37th minute when forward pressure saw captain Sam Brady get the second try. The conversion was also missed, and with no further scores, Gate led 10 – 0 at the break.

Gate continued to attack at the beginning of the second half. Will Pritchard’s break ended with Scunthorpe receiving a second yellow card. Continued attacking play saw Richard Kaisia go over for his first try in Harrogate colours. Rory Macnab’s successful conversion extended the lead to 17 – 0.

In the 50th minute, Gate scored the bonus point try. A quick free kick put Will Hill in space for him to go over for the unconverted try.

Gate scored again 5 minutes later, through a try from Steve Maycock. Unfortunately, no added points ensued.

Despite the conditions, both sides still tried to run the ball, and Gate scored a 6th try in the 69th minute when Ewan Evans finished off the move, with Rory Macnab adding the extras to make the score 34 – 0.

Although there was no further score, Scunthorpe never gave up, and we wish them well for the remainder of the season.

Gate’s next game is at Pontefract next Saturday, with the rearranged game against Alnwick taking place at Rudding Lane on 10 February 2024, kick off 2pm.

Teams:

Harrogate: Macnab, Evans, Brook, Kaisia, Miller, Steene, Olley, Percival, Maycock, Butler, Pritchard, Brady (c), Richardson, Dodds, Hill. Replacements: Garrett, Coser, Dobson.

Scunthorpe: Lugsden, Murr, Robinson, Dyson J, Talbot, Foster, Mowbray, Beresford, Mason, Linklater, Williams, Dyson N, Elliott (c), Rendall-Tyrrell, Brunt. Replacements: Christie, Fisher, Oldridge.

Referee: Sam Potts (Yorkshire Society)

Tim Thorley
Harrogate RUFC
29 January 2024