Blackburn had proved to be doughty opponents in the earlier away fixture and, if anything, they were even more competitive in this tight, bruising encounter.

The match started with a string of turnovers as both defences were tested in wild, windy conditions. Harrogate opened the scoring after good line-out ball was spread and centre, Sam Fox wrong footed Blackburn’s defence for an excellent try which he converted. The Harrogate attacks were gradually increasing in intensity and a well worked switch move led to a 30 metres Doc Doherty break but his “scoring pass” was knocked on. The next score came after attacking scrum ball put Harry Jukes clear on the left. The certain try was stopped by a high tackle and Mr Hurdley had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try which made 14-0 midway through the half. A Yellow Card against Blackburn was also awarded.

Blackburn responded spiritedly and mounted sustained pressure for the next 10 minutes. Yet again, Harrogate’s exceptionally well organized defence kept them out. Everybody played a part in this but flankers Jonny Coser and Martin Dodds stood out, tackling like dingbats. However, the Blackburn pressure eventually told and Harrogate lock, Sam Brady was dispatched to the bin. From the penalty, Blackburn opted for a scrum against Harrogate’s 7 man pack. The pressure continued and the ball was spread for centre Sam Russell to score.

It was largely even play for the rest of the half with Harrogate just about having the edge. Olly Rosillo and Doherty continued to break tackles and set up attacks to complement the solid forward play from the whole pack with telling contributions from “old head” Steve Maycock.

The second half opened with it being Harrogate’s turn to face a strong wind. Blackburn were awarded a central midfield penalty and Leon Fifield’s excellent kick made it 14-8. Both defences continued to be tested with driving mauls and they both also won repeated turnovers with Harrogate’s Dodds well to the fore in this department. Harrogate opted for a scrum after a squint Blackburn line-out throw and Brady broke strongly for the move to be carried on with a twenty metres burst from Brandon Hannam. When he was eventually tackled, Dodds was in support to score and this denied Blackburn the losing bonus point which they richly deserved. However, Blackburn continued to press with all guns blazing and seemed to have won a crucial advantage when Phil Wickham, Harrogate’s diminutive scrum half, was yellow carded for a high tackle. Blackburn drove strongly from the subsequent attacking line-out but Harrogate won a crucial turnover on their own goal line. The home spectators’ hearts were in their mouths when Harrogate opted to run the ball from there but elation followed when superb handling and running skills ended with Harry Barnard securing the bonus point with a converted try.

Harrogate: Doherty, Rosillo, Barnard, Fox, Jukes, Matthews, Wickham, Ward, Maycock, Larder, Maycock, Brady, Boyde, Coser, Dodds, Heaton. Subs:- Driscoll, Hannam, Parry

Blackburn: Fifield, G Skofic, Harrop, Russell, Reilly, Erasmus, Nicholls, Corless, Burtonwood, Lavelle, Logan, McHugh, Richardson, F Skofic, Maher. Subs:- Evans, Jarrold, Gaughan

Referee: Michael Hurdley (North)

Match report by Bill Barrack