Blaydon 34 v Harrogate 25

Blaydon 34 Harrogate 25
Saturday 2 March 2024

Harrogate suffered a setback in their quest for promotion back to the National League when they came up against an inspired Blaydon side, whose supporters said they produced their best performance for a while.

Blaydon started the game on the attack, and was rewarded in the third minute when Kevin Slow went over for the opening score.

Harrogate responded in the 11th minute when Rory Macnab kicked a penalty following a Blaydon scrum infringement. However, they extended their lead 4 minutes later as Darren Fearn scored another unconverted try.

Rory Macnab reduced the deficit with a penalty in 18th minute before John Clarkson got Blaydon’s third try.

Harrogate’s scrum supremacy saw them end the half on the attack, and from a quickly taken penalty, Will Hill, on the occasion of his 50th cap, went over for his first try. With Macnab’s conversion being successful, Gate was only 15 – 13 down at the break.

Gate didn’t help themselves at the beginning of the second half. Firstly, a penalty opportunity was missed. Then, following a Blaydon clearance, a quick throw in was taken, but Blaydon turned the ball over in midfield culminating in Jack Appleton scoring their bonus point try, though the conversion was again missed.

Not to be out done, Gate replied immediately when Oli Toomey cross-kicked for Conor Miller to score, but there were no added points.

Blaydon scored their fifth try in the 56th minute through Captain James Cooney, with John Clarkson being successful with the afters.

Gate was reduced to 14 men in the 61st minute when Harry Butler was yellow carded for a high tackle. However, despite the numerical disadvantage, Will Hill’s second try and Rory Macnab’s conversion took Gate to within 2 points.

As Gate pressed to win the game, a Sam Fox pass on halfway was intercepted by Jack Appleton who ran unopposed for the game’s final try. John Clarkson’s conversion meant Gate came away from the trip with no points.

This weekend sees Gate play the rearranged game against Alnwick, kick-off at 2.30pm.

Teams:

Blaydon: Slow, Hindle, Cooney (c), Williams, Appleton, Coates, Clarkson, Fearn, Pentland, Dodds, Wright, Turnbull, Tabuavuaka, Jenkinson, Dynan. Replacements: Appleby, Keen, Duffy.

Harrogate: Macnab, Miller, Dobson, Steene, Brook, Toomey, Olley, Percival, Butler, Peace, Pritchard, Brady (c), Coser, Kaisia, Hill. Replacements: Gray, Edgar, Fox.

Referee: Matt Arrowsmith (Manchester Society)

Tim Thorley
Harrogate RUFC
6 March 2024