Facing the combination of an in- form Alnwick side and Storm Dennis, the whole team united to work for each other, particularly in the second half when they played into a gale force wind. In good anticipation of the conditions, all three Harrogate replacements were forwards and this hugely contributed to their almost total scrum domination.

Alnwick kicked off into the wind and the ball blew straight back into their half leading to a Harrogate midfield scrum. Alnwick were penalised at the scrum and Sam Fox’s long range, wind assisted penalty kick gave Harrogate an early 3-0 lead. Harrogate pressure led to Alnwick knocking on inside their 22 and a driving maul was set up from good scrum ball. Sam Brady powered over for a converted try to make it 0-10 after 8 minutes play.

Harrogate continued to use the wind well to keep play in Alnwick’s half and still more good scrum ball was spread left to winger Harry Jukes. His searing pace took him almost to the goal line and, when he was tackled, Luke Edwards was in support to score an excellent converted try and put Harrogate 0-17 ahead. More powerful Harrogate scrummaging forced Alnwick to concede another penalty and Fox’s kick made the half time score 0-20.

There were serious doubts about a 0-20 half time lead being enough for Harrogate as they were playing into the teeth of gale force winds. However, as play continued, it became very clear why Harrogate have the best defensive record in the League. It was such a united team performance that it’s almost invidious to single out any individual players. Absolutely everybody played out of their skins as Harrogate played a second half game of driving ball retention into all that Alnwick and Storm Dennis could throw at them. The starting front row of Connor Ward, Tom Larder and Steve Maycock achieved early domination and this was maintained with judicial use of subs, Andy Boyde, Tom Driscoll and flanker, Hugo Tasker. 2nd row Brady was a beacon of controlled aggression throughout the match supported by powerful running and tackling from Brandon Hannam.

Back row play is absolutely crucial in these conditions and Tim Heaton gave a faultless display of control at No 8 with dynamic support from Jonny Coser and Martin Dodds. At scrum half, Danny Matthews linked superbly with the pack and young Stand-Off Harry Yates gave a beyond his years assured performance in defence and attack. Wingers Jukes and Olly Rosillo defended well with their dynamic counter attacks keeping Alnwick’s defence honest. In the centre, Fox and Edwards ran hard and tackled even harder with full back Doc Doherty giving an assured performance with several telling counter attacks.

The only second half score followed a period of sustained Alnwick attacks but Harrogate again won turnover ball to set up driving mauls. Alnwick went offside and Jukes broke from a quickly taken short penalty. The ball was recycled inside to the towering Brady who, almost unbelievably, put in a superbly judged attacking chip which Rosillo gathered to sprint clear and score out wide. Fox’s attempted touchline conversion into the howling only just missed.

Alnwick: J Burns, Hutchinson, Cuthbert, Mallaburn, Addison, C Burns, Moralee, Smith, Liddle, Clayton, Young, Gray, Evans, Pettifer, Gothorp. Subs:- McCourty, Cowan, Courty

Harrogate: Doherty, Rosillo, Edewards, Fox, Jukes, Yates, Matthews, Ward, Larder, Maycock, Brady, Hannam, Coser, Dodds, Heaton. Subs:- Boyde, Driscoll, Tasker

Referee: Nathan Howarth (North)

Match report by Bill Barrack