Rose Jeffries Memorial Charity Rugby Match

The Unders eventually ran out winners in a firercley conteseted game featuring over 50 players from Harrogate Pythons, Harrogate RUFC, Knaresborough RUFC The Waifs & Strays, plus visiting relatives from places such as Torquay RFC & Ayesbury RUFC in what was a great advert for our wonderful game. Moreover it showed the passion and potential strength of rugby in Harrogate when

Admittedly the unders had more speed in attack and in a devastating burst at about the 50 minute mark ran in four tries in quick succession to earn a healthy lead and even though the overs won the last qtr it was not enough to secure vistory.

The Unders captained by Dan Shortman got off to a quick start and scored two tries using the pace and power of the wingers to great effect only to be pegged back by two tries for the overs showing some superb interlinking play and a fair degree of nouse at the breakdown !

Simon Womersley superbly led the overs which included players from both clubs, Knaresborough and the Waifs, a number of whom have graced the field for Harrogate 1 XV in the past and still retain significant skills even if a tad slower than in their pomp.

In the end the scores were immaterial - great fun was had by all participants and enabled families to come together with the author being able to play on the same pitch as both his sons allbeit on opposite sides !

There were over 250 spectators for the event that has raised well over £1000 for the two nominated childrens charities.

This even was organised by Harrogate Pythons and shows the potential of what can be generated locally with a packed clubhouse great atmosphere and lots of money taken over the bar.

All in all a real Christmas Cracker of a day.