Up to today, KL were unbeaten at home this season but Harrogate’s win ended that run too. However, it was far from being an easy win. After a highly competitive first half, KL were 13-12 ahead at the break but, with the slight slope advantage, Harrogate gradually took control and a last minute try secured the bonus point win.

After an even start, a Harrogate defensive knock-on put themselves under pressure and this was followed by an offside offence from which home stand-off, Mile Fearon kicked their opening 3 points. Harrogate’s Sam Brady and Tim Heaton were their stand out forwards 2 seasons ago and gave us a repeat performance today as their pack gradually took control. This was in spite of the foraging efforts of Josh Sheridan, KL’s flanker and powerful drives from loose head prop, Dan Thompson.

The next significant event was a nasty nose injury to Harrogate’s goal kicking centre, Sam Fox which ended his match. Home right winger, Harry Ralston made a strong break and chipped ahead but Harrogate won the chase for the touch-down. However, from the subsequent attacking scrum, KL hooker Dan Armistead drove over to score a converted try and extend their lead to 10-0. A midfield dust up involving both packs then led to yellow cards for Harrogate’s Andy Boyde and KL’s Harlan Corrie but well controlled Harrogate driving mauls were gradually gaining them ascendency. Quick ball was spun right from an attacking maul and Harry Barnard celebrated his return from a long injury lay-off with a sharply taken try.

Barnard soon made his presence felt again with a strong 60 metres run from defence and Danny Matthews was in support to score a try, converted by Doc Doherty to put Harrogate 10-12 ahead as half time approached. However, KL quickly regained the lead from a penalty following an offside offence.

Increasingly powerful Harrogate scrummaging put KL under pressure from the restart and, when their retreating scrum was penalised, Doherty’s penalty kick restored Harrogate’s narrow lead. More of the same followed and another penalty goal made it 13-18, twelve minutes into the half. A KL counter attack was checked and a massive Doherty line kick relieved the pressure but full back Oli Rosillo then had to leave the field with a leg injury and grafting 2nd Row, Tom Harvey shortly followed him with a hand injury. A Kl attacking move was ended by a superb tackle and turnover from Mason Knowles who was increasingly linking well with fellow centre Merc Mercer. A Knowles 15 metres run was checked just short of the line but the ball was recycled right and quick hands from Boyde and Doherty put Barnard into space for his second try to make it 13-23.

Harrogate then got on the wrong end of some refereeing decisions as KL strove to get back into the game and a penalty goal from an offside offence made it 16-23. More Harrogate scrummaging pressure followed and a strong run from hooker, Tom Driscoll set up another attack. Forwards and backs linked well to continue the move and Driscoll himself crashed over for the final converted try which denied KL a losing bonus point.

Kirkby Lonsdale: Ramwell, Ralston, Armstrong, Barton, Huddlestone, Fearon, Walker, D Thompson, Armistead,
Kyle-Clay, Kwiczor, J Thompson, Galbraith, Sheridan, Corrie. Subs:- Tallon, Storey, Kaye

Harrogate: Rosillo, Barnard, Mercer, Fox, Doherty, Yates, Matthews, Musetti, Driscoll, Ward, Brady, Harvey, Coser, Dodds, Heaton. Subs:- Boyde, Hannam, Knowles

Referee: Tom Doig (Northern)

Match report by Bill Barrack