MANY THANKS TO NORTHERN PROPERTY PARTNERS FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP OF THIS GAME!

Harrogate edged a pulsating encounter against Ilkley with a last-gasp penalty to seal a dramatic 33–32 victory in front of a lively home crowd.
The game began with Ilkley asserting early pressure, rewarded in the 8th minute when inside centre Louis Anderson slotted a penalty to open the scoring. Harrogate responded through Rory Macnab, who levelled the scores at 3–3 with a penalty of his own in the 14th minute.
Ilkley struck back immediately, with centre Harry Harrison crossing the whitewash a minute later, and Anderson adding the extras to make it 3–10. But Harrogate weren’t rattled. Hooker Charlie Head powered over in the 19th minute through Harrogate’s ever-reliable driving maul. Unfortunately, Macnab missed the conversion, failing to close the gap on the visitors. Just ten minutes later and 3 minutes after taking the field, 18-year-old debutant Charlie Duncombe added another try, giving Harrogate a 13–10 lead.

Ilkley regained the advantage before the break through full-back Ben Magee, with Anderson’s conversion making it 13–17. But Harrogate had the final say of the half, as Will Pritchard scored on the stroke of halftime to edge the hosts ahead 18–17, despite another missed conversion.
The second half began with a moment of sharp game management from Ilkley’s Charlie Morgan, who coolly slotted a drop goal to reclaim the lead. Anderson then extended Ilkley’s advantage with a try and conversion in the 51st minute, pushing the score to 18–27.

Harrogate, however, refused to back down. Skipper Sam Brady crashed over in the 54th minute, and the new number 10, Jack Mallinson, added the extras to bring it to 25–27. Just over ten minutes later, Zak Sebouai powered through for another try, giving Harrogate a 30–27 lead, though Macnab’s conversion attempt hit the posts.

Ilkley looked to have snatched victory in the 79th minute when winger Will Martindale scored in the corner, making it 30–32 and sending the visitors' dugout into a frenzied celebration. But in a dramatic finale, with two minutes left to play, Harrogate regained possession from the kick-off and were awarded a penalty in the dying seconds as the Ilkley defensive line jumped the gun and went offside. Rory Macnab, having missed three conversions earlier, held his nerve to slot the decisive kick and seal a crucial 33–32 win.

Final Score: Harrogate 33 – 32 Ilkley

Tries:
Harrogate – Head, Duncombe, Pritchard, Brady, Sebouai
Ilkley – Harrison, Magee, Anderson, Martindale
Conversions:
Harrogate – Mallinson (1)
Ilkley – Anderson (3)
Penalties:
Harrogate – Macnab (2)
Ilkley – Anderson (1)
Drop Goal:
Ilkley – Morgan