However, they never stopped attacking and, in the final move of the match, Mason Knowles scythed through the midfield for a 30 metres try to snatch the narrowest of victories.

Early Harrogate forwards pressure forced desperate Blaydon defence and their No8, Harry Borthwick was dispatched to the sin bin for a neck roll. The pressure continued and, from a well controlled 15 metres driving maul, Connor Ward touched down for a try converted by Sam Fox.

Borthwick’s return after his 10 minute’s “rest” heralded a period of Blaydon pressure and a strong 50 metres break from him was only halted a few yards short of Harrogate’s line. From an attacking scrum, Blaydon drove for the Harrogate line and centre Alex Clark burst through to score though the straightforward conversion was missed. Harrogate quickly responded and a beautifully judge Fox pass put Doc Doherty clear but the attacking move ended with a knock-on.

Harrogate were largely on the defensive for the rest of the half as Blaydon mounted attacks. An attempted Harrogate counter attack from defence led to them conceding a penalty and Ryan Foreman’s kick put Blaydon 8-7 ahead with 10 minutes of the half remaining. Blaydon’s defence just managed to contain powerful Harrogate forward drives for the rest of the half.

A very even second half followed starting with a great break from Harrogate’s Martin Dodds. His dynamic fellow flanker, Hugo Tasker had an outstanding match in which he launched streams of attacks from breakdowns. A leg injury to prop, Ward forced ended his match and this gave Blaydon more parity up front. Close to the end of normal time, Harrogate’s Andy Boyde was sin binned and the home pressure mounted. However, showing superior fitness, Harrogate continued to mount attacks and, in the dying moments, Knowle’s great try ended what would have been a scoreless half and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

Blaydon: Bailey, Appleton, Marshall, Clark, Cooney, Foreman, Taylor, A Dodds, Bell, Beattie, Lockwood, Laughlin, D Davidson, J Davidson, Borthwick. Subs:- Fearn, Wright, Mongan

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

Referee: Michael Hurdley (Northern)

Match report by Bill Barrack