Harrogate Pythons RUFC chief Tom Baxter 'pleased with large aspects' of performance at Yarnbury RFC

Tom Baxter insisted that he was “pleased with large aspects” of Harrogate Pythons RUFC’s performance at Yarnbury RFC, despite seeing his side slip to a narrow defeat.

The men from the Jim Saynor Ground finished up on the wrong end of a 34-26 score-line, but their director of rugby felt that they could very easily have won Saturday’s Yorkshire One contest.

“I was pleased with large aspects of the game despite the outcome,” Baxter said.

“Going to Yarnbury is always tricky on their 3G pitch, but for large periods, we dominated set-piece, possession and territory.

“However, on that artificial surface, mistakes will always be punished by their quick back three.

“We faced multiple challenges throughout the week with the squad changing many times, but I’m incredibly proud of the lads who pulled on the shirt and, on another day, the result could easily have been the other way around.”

The Pythons took control of Saturday’s game straight from the kick-off after Hugh Tatlow charged down an attempted clearance kick and forced a five-metre scrum.

Sam Rowntree picked up from the base and made a break for the try-line before Will Milnes, Jack McGowan and Jordan Payne were all stopped just short by a determined Yarnbury defence.

The visitors continued to turn the screw, but Yarnbury managed to hold out for several phases until the ball was eventually spilled and then gathered by one of the home wingers, who raced away to break the deadlock against the run of play.

Undeterred, the Pythons kept coming, and managed to level the scores at 7-7 in the 12th minute.

The charging Tatlow was held just two metres out, but Milnes arrived in support to apply the finishing touch for Joe Rowntree to convert.

Baxter’s men then got their rewards for that positive start when they edged into a 12-7 lead.

Dylan Wepener intercepted a pass on the Pythons’ 22 and raced downfield. He was eventually brought to ground by a covering defender, though Rhys Cory and Tatlow were in support, and they combined well to set Wepener away to finish what he started.

Yarnbury did however improve as half-time approached, and they went over to grab their second try before kicking a penalty to make it 15-12 at the interval.

And the West Yorkshiremen picked up where they left off at the start of the second period, adding more touchdowns to their tally to seize a 34-12 advantage.

But, the Pythons did not let their heads drop and began to crank up the pressure once again as they sought a way back into the contest.

Some powerful play by McGowan took them under the shadow of the posts, and although Cory and George Booth couldn’t initially force their way over, McGowan eventually did.

Joe Rowntree’s conversion made it 34-19 and it was not long before the visitors received another boost when Yarnbury were reduced to 14 men following a late tackle.

The resulting penalty was kicked to the corner, and from the line-out which followed, McGowan and Tatlow went close before Wepener found Adam Button on the outside, and he dived over in the corner.

Joe Rowntree kicked the extra two from the touchline, but with just two minutes left to play, time ran out on the Pythons.

Defeat sees ‘Gate drop to sixth place in the Yorkshire One table ahead of this weekend’s trip to struggling Hullensians.