National Two North: Harrogate downed by high-flying Stourbridge

Harrogate dropped into the bottom half of the National Two North table following a 23-10 defeat at second-placed Stourbridge.

Harrogate were outgunned and outplayed in a below standard first half but they responded positively to win the second period despite atrocious conditions in Staffordshire.

Harrogate had to live off scraps of possession as Stourbridge dominated both the scrums and the line-outs, with ‘Gate remaining in touching distance thanks to number eight Willem Enslin’s control of the ball behind a retreating scrum.

Sustained pressure from the hosts put Harrogate on the back foot and Rod Petty slotted over two early penalties for a Stourbridge lead.

The pressure continued and a Stourbridge penalty led to an attacking line-out which allowed scrum-half Toby Handley to dart through a gap for a converted try.

Harrogate’s scrum-half, Phil Wickham used his limited possession well to challenge the home defence with his breaks and, when Stourbridge went offside in defence, Lewis Minikin’s penalty opened Harrogate’s account.

A yellow card for Tom Harvey led to Stourbridge opting for scrums at a succession of penalties and the ball was eventually spread quickly for Josh Trinham to score.

It looked like being more of the same at the start of the second half as the Stourbridge pack drove on from an attacking line-out and centre, Ransford Otutaha crashed over to score what turned out to be their final points.

Harrogate’s forwards took control for the rest of the match with powerful runs from the Brady brothers (Sam and captain Jake) consistently breaking through the home defence.

Half backs Wickham and Callum Irvine used the ball well to bring Harrogate’s talented backs more into play.

One of the many mysterious penalties awarded against Harrogate led to an attacking Stourbridge line-out but Jake Brady stole the ball to set up more Harrogate attacks.

Stourbridge were then reduced to 14 temporarily with Connor Nicholls sent to the sin bin, although the referee’s whistle stopped an opportunity for a Harrogate overlap had an advantage been played.

With a man advantage, ‘Gate controlled proceedings. A quickly taken Wickham penalty led to sustained pressure on the Stourbridge line but the ball was turned over and cleared. However, Harrogate weren’t to be denied and more attacks followed from a Sam Brady line-out steal.

Irvine made a half break which was well supported by tight forwards Ben Reaveley and Charlie Purkiss-McEndoo. The ball was recycled to Irvine whose run resulted in a Stourbridge offside offence. Another quickly taken Wickham penalty created a gap for Luke Edwards to sprint clear for a 30 metres converted try.

How they lined up

Stourbridge: Bridger, Elvers, Heatley, Otutaha, Trinham, Petty, Handley, Thorp, Wilkes, George, Depper, Hurrell, Mukarati, Carpenter, Rodley. Subs:- Sturdy, Nicholls, Harding, Roddy, Scott.

Harrogate: Minikin, Bottomley, Lansdall, Frost, Edwards, Irvine, Wickham, Purkiss-McEndoo, Maycock, Ward, J Brady, S Brady, Harvey, J Coser, Enslin. Subs:- Larder, Reaveley, Nawanazia, Parrish, G Coser

Referee: Will Halford (RFU)