Harrogate 26 v Hull 31
Saturday 5 April 2025

The stage was set for massive encounter between the bottom 2 sides in National League 2 North. Both have everything left to play for as the confirmed changes to tier 2 means avoiding the bottom spot could seal a league place for next year.

Harrogate started strongly, with Jack Gilmartin (4) crossing the whitewash in the 9th minute. Rory Macnab (15) added the extras, giving an early 7-0 lead. However, Hull quickly found their footing with Harry Dawkins (14) scoring in the 17th minute, but Fynlay Hobson (15) failed to convert. Undeterred, Hobson (15) then powered over for a try in the 24th minute, converting his own score to push his team ahead 7-12.
The home team responded with a well-executed try from Martin Dodds (6) in the 30th minute. Macnab (15) converted, restoring their lead at 14-12. However, Hull struck back immediately, with Paulos Latu (8) scoring a try in the 32nd minute, converted by Hobson (15), giving them a 14-19 advantage. A missed penalty by Hobson (15) just before halftime kept the score at 14-19.
The second half started well for Harrogate with replacement Will Pritchard (19) levelling the scores for the Aces in the 54th minute, and Macnab (15) continued to convert, putting them ahead 21-19. Soon after, Hull responded with a swift try from Faraimo (12) in the 56th minute, converted by Harvey Harding (9) without the aid of the kicking tee, swinging the advantage back 21-26. Homegrown Finn Green (11) then crossed for the home side in the 58th minute, but this time Macnab (15) missed the conversion, leaving the score tied at 26-26.
With the game hanging in the balance, Tomas Bairstow (3) scored a crucial try for the away side in the 66th minute, putting them 26-31 ahead. A missed conversion from Astley (10) meant the score remained at 26-31 for the remainder of the 80 mins.

Both sides look to the final two games to secure the points needed for National League survival.