Early in the game, Harrogate scored the game’s only try and managed to keep their noses in front for the rest of the match. A late Harrogate penalty goal denied Morpeth the bonus point which their efforts deserved.

The first serious attack came from Morpeth’s outstanding No8, Olli Dynam but the move ended with a knock-on. Harrogate countered from quick scrum ball and Martin Dodds was on hand to take a scoring pass from a well worked move. Sam Fox’s conversion made it 7-0 after seven minutes.
Harrogate knocked on from the restart and Morpeth’s full back, Andrew Telford made the extra man in an attacking move which ended with another knock-on. Both teams continued to attack but the conditions forced a plethora of knocks-on. Despite some inconsistent line-out play, the Harrogate pack set up driving mauls but were penalised at a breakdown and Ben Hornby’s kick made it 7-3. Almost immediately, a Morpeth offside offence was penalised and Fox’s kick restored Harrogate seven points advantage.

The same pattern continued in the second half with Harrogate’s pack just about having the edge against the doughty Morpeth opposition. Dodds made some strong carries and continued pressure forced Morpeth to concede a penalty some 40 metres out. In the conditions this was a challenging kick and Fox had been replaced. However, Doc Doherty kept his nerve and his good technique gave Harrogate what proved to be their winning 10 points margin.

Harrogate: Rosillo, Doherty, Mercer, Fox, Parry, Yates, Matthews, Musetti, Driscoll, C Ward, Brady, Harvey, Dodds, Tasker, Coser. Subs:- Martin, Yorke, Edwards

Morpeth: Telford, J Ward, Manley, S Hornby, Jardine, B Hornby, Elliott, Wilson, Hill, Moody, Long, Millington, Williams, Craigs, Dynam. Subs:- Grieve, Burnham, Irving

Referee: Michael Hurdley (Northern)

Match report by Bill Barrack