This was an excellent game of rugby for 30 minutes until Loughborough Front Row injuries resulted in uncontested scrums. The referee’s interpretation was that this could be done with Loughborough being allowed to play on with 15 players for the rest of the match.

Up to the 30 minutes mark, it was a keenly contested game with Harrogate’s superior forward strength being countered by dynamic Loughborough running. Thereafter, it ceased to be a proper match.

The opening score was a Harrogate Kit Keith penalty goal after Loughborough’s defence went offside. Well constructed Loughborough attacks followed but Harrogate won a turnover and Sam Parry broke and gave a scoring pass to Marcus Mercer to make it 8-0. Loughborough’s inventive midfield running continued to impress but Harrogate’s defence contained them and won more crucial turnovers. Harrogate then put in a 20 metres driving maul from good scrum ball and prop, Tom Baxter crashed over for a converted try to make it 15-0 after25 minutes.

Shortly afterwards the game went to uncontested scrums giving Loughborough far more possession and a Karl Warner try opened their account. A Will Sanders try soon followed converted by Alex Wainwright to make it 15-12 and he soon followed this with another converted try to make it 15-17 at the break. Centre, James Langston scored another Loughborough and, at the death, a Nicolas Jakobsen converted try made the final score 15-24

Harrogate Opposition
Tries Time Tries Time
Mercer 7 Warner 34
Baxter 25 Sanders 36 & 40
Jakobsen 76
Langston 35
Cons Time Cons Time
Keith 26 Wainwright 37 & 77

DG Time DG Time

Pens Time Pens Time
Keith 2

Star Man: Maycock (Harrogate) for first 30 minutes before game became meaningless with uncontested scrums

Referee
Andy Morton (RFU)

Attendance
300

Half Time Score
15-17