Date: 28 February 2026 • Venue: Ilkley • Competition: Regional 1 North East (Level 5)
Harrogate do the double over local rivals, Ilkley, with a hard-earned 24–18 victory, overturning an early deficit and finishing with four tries to the hosts’ two, securing a critical bonus point.

Scoring Summary
• 3’ Ilkley 7–0 Harrogate — Full back Freddie Brown (15) struck first with a try, converted by Charles Morgan (10).
• 22’ Ilkley 7–5 Harrogate — Amrit Sharma (11) hit back for Harrogate with a try; the conversion was missed by Jack Mallinson (10).
• 27’ Ilkley 7–12 Harrogate — Centre Kristan Dobson (13) crossed to put Harrogate ahead.
• 28’ Ilkley 7–12 Harrogate — Mallinson (10) added the extras to extend the lead.
• 31’ Ilkley 10–12 Harrogate — Morgan (10) kept Ilkley in touch with a penalty.
• 36’ Ilkley 15–12 Harrogate — Inside centre Matthew Sheard (12) finished well; Morgan’s conversion attempt drifted wide (37’).
• 39’ Ilkley 15–17 Harrogate — Lock Jacob Brady (4) powered over just before the break; the conversion was missed.
• 64’ Ilkley 15–24 Harrogate — Back row Zak Sebouai (6) scored Harrogate’s bonus point try, Mallinson (10) converting.
• 72’ Ilkley 18–24 Harrogate — Morgan (10) landed a late penalty to secure Ilkley a losing bonus point.

Final: Ilkley 18 – 24 Harrogate • Tries: Ilkley 2, Harrogate 4.

Match Report

Ilkley began brightly, striking within three minutes through Freddie Brown, with Charles Morgan steady from the tee to make it 7–0. But Harrogate’s backline found its rhythm midway through the half: Sharma’s finish from the left and Dobson’s incisive line-break try flipped the scoreboard, Mallinson converting one of the two first half opportunities. Sheard briefly restored Ilkley’s lead at 36’, only for Jacob Brady to respond almost immediately, giving Harrogate a narrow edge at the interval (15–17).
After the break Harrogate’s forwards tightened the screws. The decisive moment came on 64 minutes when Sebouai drove over for the visitors’ fourth try, Mallinson adding the extras for a two score cushion at 15–24. Ilkley pressed late and were rewarded with a 72’ penalty from Morgan, but Harrogate’s sustained offence and possession saw out the final minutes without further damage.
Kicking & Conversions
The carded kicking ledger shows Mallinson (Harrogate 10) with two conversions made and two missed across the match, while Morgan (Ilkley 10) landed one conversion and two penalties, missing one conversion.

Substitutions
Harrogate used their bench to good effect in the second half:
• 40’: Tomasi Tanumi (22) for Conor Miller (14) — tactical.
• 45’: Dominic Dalby (18) for Eoin Harrison (3) — tactical.
• 50’: Miller (14) returned for Benedict Richardson (7) — tactical reshuffle.
• 78’: Richardson (7) back on for Sebouai (6) — as Zak sustained cramp in the dying minutes.

Teams (Selected Starters)
Ilkley: 15 Freddie Brown; 14 Harry Taylor; 13 Fred Clark; 12 Matthew Sheard; 11 Harry Harrison; 10 Charles Morgan; 9 Blake Morgan; 1 Robert Sigsworth; 2 Ollie Ham; 3 Jamie Slator; 4 Callum Graham; 5 Jack Hamilton; 6 Thomas Reavey; 7 Max Jones; 8 Peter Erskine.

Harrogate: 15 Thomas Steene; 14 Conor Miller; 13 Kristan Dobson; 12 Kodie Brook; 11 Amrit Sharma; 10 Jack Mallinson; 9 Dan Wilson; 1 Jacob Percival; 2 Charlie Head; 3 Eoin Harrison; 4 Jacob Brady; 5 Samuel Brady; 6 Zak Sebouai; 7 Benedict Richardson; (bench incl. 16 Matthew Tanner, 17 Edward Finch, 18 Dominic Dalby, 22 Tomasi Tanumi).

Verdict
A fiercely contested derby in which Harrogate’s clinical edge evidenced by four tries and impactful second half bench usage proved the difference. Ilkley’s set piece failed to function but Morgan’s boot kept them in range. The visitors’ 64 minute strike from Sebouai ultimately settled it. Final score Ilkley 18–24 Harrogate.