Although Harrogate scored 3 tries to Carlisle’s 2, Carlisle were the deserved winners.

An early touchline break from Carlisle winger, Ed Harper ended with him being forced into touch, However, Harrogate’s line-out was stolen and the home pressure mounted. Harrogate’s defence went offside and Jason Israel’s penalty opened the scoring. Carlisle were soon awarded another penalty but the kick missed touch and Harrogate fly half Harry Yates countered with a searing touchline 40 metres break. The strong running Martin Dodds was in support to score a try under the posts, converted by Sam Fox.

Harrogate’s defence contained more Carlisle attacks and launched counter attacks mainly from Fox and Oli Rosillo but were eventually penalised at a breakdown and the penalty made it 6-7. This was shortly followed by another breakdown offence and this penalty put Carlisle 9-7 ahead. Harrogate were consistently at odds with the referee’s law interpretations and weren’t awarded a single penalty in the 1st half. However, a good Matt Lansdall take launched another counter attack and Brandon Hannam charged down the Carlisle clearance to score and make it 9-12 with 10 minutes of the half remaining. Both sides attempted to attack with Harrogate having the edge in the scrums but both defences held out till the break.

Harrogate kicked off and Jonny Coser forced a turnover from which they attacked but were again penalised at the breakdown. They were further penalised at a Carlisle driving maul and, from the attacking line-out, Carlisle drove again for Henry Wainwright to score a converted try. Harrogate’s Tom Driscoll was then yellow carded for what was adjudged to be a high tackle and the penalty made it 19-12. Carlisle took advantage of the extra numbers for Grant Connon to score a good converted try to make it 26-12. Carlisle’s Jack Brockett then joined Driscoll in the sin bin but the next event was another penalty goal against Harrogate. Frustrations mounted at seemingly uneven penalty awards but Harrogate continued to attack where possible and Dodds crashed over for a consolation try at the end.

Carlisle: M Connon, Harper, Auld, Israel, Purdham, G Connon, Telford, Fulford, Graham, Shield, Parish, Brockett, Percival, Wainwright, Charteris. Subs:- Lindsay, Naude, Wilson

Harrogate: Rosillo, Knowles, Mercer, Fox, Lansdall, Yates, Matthews, Boyde, Maycock, Ward, Harvey, Brady, Coser, Dodds, Hannam. Subs:- Driscoll, Tasker, Miller

Referee: Ben Moore (Northern)

Match report by Bill Barrack