Harrogate Ladies come away with another victory after top of the table clash with Birkenhead Park

Saturday saw the unstoppable Harrogate outfit take on their closest competition in the Championship North 2 league, Birkenhead Park Panthers.

With the Liverpool side sitting comfortably in the number two spot in the league table, Lucy Barnett’s team were expecting their biggest challenge yet this season and Birkenhead did not disappoint.

The match was initiated by a Harrogate kick which was powerfully chased down. Despite the chase, Birkenhead secured the ball and showed they were going to be a force to be reckoned with. They protected the ball and began to play the phases.

Soon Harrogate pressed forwards, the ball was knocked on close to Birkenhead’s try line but when they kicked to clear the home side regained possession.

As a result the ball was passed down line before full back Lauren Bolger took the first score of the day in the right hand corner.

Upon the restart the forwards played the phases well, matching Birkenhead’s power upfront. They took it in turns to crash through the defence but held onto the ball and recycled well.

Kelly Morgan came on for Bolger who suffered a facial injury and was taken off for assessment. The second try of the match arrived imminently. Harrogate were looking extremely dominant before centre, Sarah Foster received a beautifully placed back hand pass from Captain Rose Jay and darted through the defence to cross the whitewash, to finish off a team try. Alex Wallace converted to increase the score to 12-0.

Birkenhead attempted a driving maul after a following line out and though they directed it well, they struggled to shift the reactant Harrogate forwards and were forced to retrieve and move the ball quickly.

The organised Birkenhead side took advantage of a gap on Harrogate’s left wing but Foster flew up just in time, managing to take out the opposition winger. After the visitors ecycled, prop Amber Barnicoat defended hard by smashing through a ruck which caused a break in play.

When play resumed, the ball slipped through Foster’s fingers but she recovered by chasing it down leading to a frantic attack from Birkenhead and a resultant knock on. It was this which then allowed Bolger the space she needed on the overlap to be able to score on the wing.
Birkenhead stuck with their kicking tactic which ensured they made it exceptionally close to the home side’s try line.

A strong Harrogate line out followed but Birkenhead were still too close to the try line for comfort. Their Centre grubber kicked the ball through and number 8, Anna Hamilton dived onto the ball to touch it down in the try zone.

The subsequent 22 metre scrum collapsed on the Birkenhead side however and Harrogate won the penalty. Bolger kicked to relieve pressure but on the chase Birkenhead won the ball back, a succession of scrums lead to an eventual penalty for the opposition.

The visitors kicked for touch but flanker, Nieve Jones made a steal in the line out. When the ball made it quickly into the centre, Foster was able to make the break.

Though Birkenhead turned over the ball and kicked it out once again. The line out ended in another Harrogate steal and the game was being played back in Birkenhead’s half.

The half time whistle blew just as Evie Jackson had stopped the opposition’s momentum by taking out their right winger in a tackle.

After the interval a try was scored quickly by Wallace, who powered through numerous defenders to score and make it 22-0.

There was a display of dominant forward runs from Barnicoat, Martha Riggs and Annie Lyles. The latter of which resulted in a Harrogate penalty for Birkenhead’s side entrance into the ruck.

Jay kicked for Bolger to chase. She caught it before taking a tackle from her opposing full back and offloading to Celine Almond on the wing. Almond was tackled on the ground after diving to receive Bolger’s offload.

Harrogate continued to play the phases to protect with Rachel Demoraes score out wide on the left, increasing Harrogate’s lead once more to 27-0.

Achele Agada made an impact with an impressive run through the middle with Wallace in support. Wallace spotted a gap just before half way and put her foot on the gas to score between the sticks. Her kick however bounced off the right post, adding 5 points to the board.

Birkenhead hit hard and played a very physical game for the final 15 minutes, Harrogate didn’t have an easy ride.

Agada made another break up the left wing and flanker, Lauren Clarkson out ran the opposition winger and was there to receive the offload just as the last line of defence took Agada out. Clarkson made the try to extend the score again to 37-0.

Harrogate entered the last minute with still more to give. Jackson touched down on the far right to close the game after a series of excellent runs.
The final score was 42-0 to the home side.

Player of the match recognition was awarded to Amber Barnicoat, Sarah Foster and Alex Wallace. Harrogate will take on Sunderland Flames away on Sunday, K.O at 2pm.

HL