Blaydon 12 Harrogate 29

Although this was a match between the bottom two sides in the League, it was a high quality encounter and a great advertisement for Level 4 rugby. Harrogate’s forward domination was the key difference between the sides but Blaydon’s speedy backs were a constant threat throughout the game.

From the start, Harrogate exerted pressure with well controlled driving mauls from scrums and lines-out from which Blaydon were forced to concede penalties. The first try came from quickly spread ball and debutant full back, Jack Haydock showed pace and agility to score in the corner. Scrum half, Kit Keith converted from the touchline.

Blaydon quickly responded to level the scores after 15 minutes. They forced the Harrogate defence to concede offside penalties and centre, Dan Marshall scythed through the defence from a quickly taken penalty for a try converted by Jonny Dowell.

Harrogate’s forward power continued to dominate, forcing Blaydon to live off scraps of possession. Veteran hooker Steve Maycock was at the heart of everything ably supported by props Will Dennis and Jake Percival. The pressure didn’t lessen when Eoin Harrison and Rory Wurzal came off the bench. Of course, the front row needed the necessary support from the rest of the pack and they certainly got it. Skipper, Sam Brady gave another towering 2nd Row display with great support from Fraser Kitching. The marauding back row of Martin Dodds and the Coser brothers were as prominent as ever and Declan Thompson made an instant impact when he came off the bench to replace the injured Guy Coser.

Harrogate’s young half back pairing of Harry Yates and Kit Keith again worked well with centre, Sam Fox marshalling Harrogate’s back play. All the backs combined well in defence and attack with outstanding contributions from Harry Barnard..

The Harrogate forward drives forced Blaydon into conceding successive penalties and 2nd Row, Austin Phillips got the inevitable yellow card. The penalty led to an attacking line-out, a driving maul and a Maycock try to make the half time score 7-12.

The second half opened with a carbon copy of the final first half score. A driving maul from an attacking line-out ended with another Maycock try. The game pattern continued with skilful running from the Blaydon backs from very limited possession. Harrogate centre, Fox skilfully wrong footed the home defence with an outstanding individual converted try.

Blaydon were starting to win more line-out possession to mount more attacks and prop, Drew Thompson crashed over for a good try. This made it 12-24 but Harrogate increased their lead in the final move of the match. A driving scrum seemed to be leading to another forward score but the ball skidded out and scrum half Keith snapped it up to score in the corner. His attempted touchline conversion bounced out off the upright to make the final score 12-29.

Blaydon
Appleton, Cooney, Marshall, Ashton, Nowsall, Dowell, Clarkson, A Dodds, Chaplin, Drew Thompson, Phillips, Lawshlin, Varley, S Harrison, E Clark. Subs:- Grom, Winter, Charlton, A Clark, Horsfall

Harrogate
Haydock, Barnard, Cummins, Fox, W Yates, H Yates, Keith, Percival, Maycock, Dennis, Kitching, Brady, G Coser, Dodds, J Coser. Subs:- E Harrison, Wurzal, Declan Thompson, Raubitschek, Edwards.

Referee
Nikki O’Donnell

Report by Bill Barrack