This was expected to be a one-way contest but two teams, at opposite ends of the League gave the spectators an enthrallingly tight match. Harrogate were striving for a bonus point winning try in the 2nd half and Rotherham’s injury time converted try didn’t accurately reflect what had been a highly competitive game.

A great early Phil Wickham line kick put Harrogate in an attacking position and the Rotherham defence went offside. Kit Keith’s penalty put Harrogate 0-3 ahead. Full blooded rugby from both sides followed. Harrogate flanker, Martin Dodds gave his standard all action performance, veteran hooker Steve Maycock was his normal force in tight and loose play and strong tackling from winger Harry Barnard’s thwarted Rotherham attacks. However, the next score came from Rotherham stand-off Matt Minogue when Harrogate lost possession in midfield. He kicked through and converted his opportunistic try. More Rotherham pressure followed and, when Harrogate’s defence was penalised on the stroke of half time, hooker Harry Newborn crashed for a converted try to make it 3-14 at the break.

Rotherham exerted concerted pressure from the restart and Tom Lewis’s try extended their lead to 3-19. A great home scrum then drove Rotherham 15 metres backwards and Sam Brady drives kept up the home pressure forcing Rotherham to concede a penalty. Maycock drove over strongly to score a converted try from the subsequent driving maul to make it 10-19.

In worsening weather conditions, Harrogate continued to test their distinguished visitors’ defence but, in the final move of the match, Rotherham’s man of the match, No8 Call Bustin drove over for a converted try

Star Man Callum Bustin (Rotherham)

Referee George Jones (Midlands)

Attendance 250

HT 3-14 FT 10-26

Scorers
Harrogate
Tries Maycock (53)
Conversions Keith (54)
Drop Goals
Penalties Keith (Keith 9)

Rotherham
Tries Minogue (27), (Newborn (37) Lewis (46), Bustin (80)
Conversions Minogue (28, 37, 81)
Drop Goals
Penalties
Minogue (28)

Yellow Cards
Harrogate
Opposition (1)