Fantastic, awesome, superb!!

Harrogate started the match strongly putting good pressure on Middlesbrough resulting in a penalty awarded in our favour – the ball was moved down the back line and Sam Considine went through for the first try which was converted by Ben Bond. Despite some decisions going against us Harrogate continued to dominate and the second try came via Harry Cleary with some great running.

The game did not flow well – eventually with loss of concentration Middlesbrough scored a try to make the score 14-5. The forwards continued to battle hard and Harrogate came back with some more good open rugby and this ended in a second try for Sam Considine after Ben Bond had created a 2 on 1. For the last 5 minutes of the first half Harrogate were forced to defend hard on their own line, but fear of them scoring was ended when Tom Whitaker put a great tackle in forcing their forward to knock on. We finished the half 19-5 up.

In the second half Middlesbrough started strongly as we lacked concentration and missed tackles. We continued to be penalised and eventually gave way to a second Middlesbrough try. Once again we fought back and played better rugby – we pushed our way up into their half and through aggressive defence from Ben Bond we caused them to drop the ball which Sam Considine fly hacked on and managed to control it to give us another score. The game continued to be hard fought with us constantly being penalised – despite this, we defended well and kept Middlesbrough from scoring.

The final whistle went and we had won 26-12.

Thanks Sam, can I add that some inspired tackling from Sam Thomas makes him Man of the Match, players upped their game on this and Luke also had a great game, as he says despite the high penalty count in the second half you dug in showed maturity in defence and played very, very well.

Great game well done...