Harrogate 11 Chester 14

Harrogate
Tries
Lansdall Time 52

Pens
Doherty 20 & 46

Chester
Tries
Wilkinson Time 36 Cons Long 36 & 66
Craven 65

Pens

Star Man Wilkinson (Chester)

Referee Ben Rayner

Attendance 100

Half Time Score 3-7

Harrogate started this match with a catastrophic list of injury unavailabilities. Before the match, they would probably have settled for this result but, in the event, it was a game they could and should have won. They again dominated large parts of the match but further injuries stretched their already limited resources to let Chester squeeze home.

Two well matched sides opened by testing each other’s defences and, though Harrogate missed a testing early penalty opportunity, the pressure continued and Doc Doherty kicked them into a 3-0 lead midway through the half. More home attacks followed with incisive running from Harry Barnard, Sam Parry and Ben Raubitschek. Tim Heaton’s experienced back row play was a telling factor in attack and defence. Last move errors denied Harrogate more scoring opportunities and, in the last move of the half, Chester’s Harry Wilkinson crashed over for a try converted by Gethin Long to make it 3-7 at the break.

Strong running from Barnard continued to test Chester’s defence and, despite injury absentees, Harrogate’s front five dominated the scrums. In his debut start, Fraser Kitching combined well with Sam Brady in powerful driving runs. Chester offended at a Harrogate driving maul from an attacking line-out and Doherty’s penalty made it 6-7. Steve Maycock won a midfield turnover and set up a counter attack from which the dynamic Martin Dodds was just forced into touch near the corner flag. The home pressured continued and Matt Lansdall crossed over at the end of a well constructed move to put Harrogate 11-7 ahead. An even period of play followed during which promising home opportunities were denied by last minute errors. Chester responded well and a darting run from scrum half John Craven led to a converted try and restore their lead. Further Harrogate injuries robbed them of some of their more experienced players which proved to be a telling factor and enable Chester to hang on to their narrow but deserved win

Harrogate
Raubitschek, Barnard, Cummins, Fox, S Parry, Doherty, Keith, Percival, Maycock, Baxter, Kitching, Brady, Heaton, Dodds, Thompson. Subs:- Yorke, Wurzal, Lansdall, G Coser, Kennell

Chester
Long, Himbury, Green, Roberts, Vare, Bate, Craven, Furnival, Williams, R Parry, Wilkinson, Jones, Ford, Cox, Joseph. Subs:- Woods, Reed, Lloyd, Callender, Scott.