Harrogate Pythons RUFC leave themselves too much to do during defeat at Beverley RUFC

The men from the Jim Saynor Ground have been superb on home soil this term, where they have won five consecutive matches.

But, a 27-22 reverse at the hands of the Beavers over in East Yorkshire means that they have now lost all seven of their away league fixtures to date.

On this occasion, the Pythons shipped three early tries and found themselves 17-0 down inside 25 minutes. And, although they managed to fight their way back to 17-17, coach John Liley said his players left themselves with too much to do.

“We still can’t get over the line to record our first away league victory,” he said. “It was another deja vu moment where we have gifted the opposition an early advantage and have had to work hard to recover and provide ourselves with the chance of a victory.

“Having gone 17-0 down, we addressed certain parts of our game to get the game back to 17-17. We needed to remain patient and stick to our game-plan in order in to see the game through in our favour.

"Whilst it was frustrating not to record the victory, that we were certainly capable of achieving, we still managed to return home with two losing bonus points.

“And we have improved on last year's result here, which has been the case in the majority of our games this year.”

In big trouble just past the midway point of the opening half, the Pythons eventually got going and, following a spell of pressure, Max Sharp burst through to touchdown.

Ben Pryor added the conversion and, with half an hour gone, ‘Gate were back in the contest.

Quickly back on the offensive, the visitors continued to threaten. Harry Jackson was pulled down 10 metres short of the try line, but managed an offload to the returning Bailey Bromberg, who to use his speed and strength to finish in the corner for 17-12.

Trailing by just five points at the interval, the Pythons began the second period the way they had finished the first.

Marcus Fotherby secured the ball from an attacking line-out and, following an effective driving maul, Joel Misseldins attacked a gaping hole on the blind side and charged over to level matters.

Beverley then hit back with a converted try to take a 24-17 lead, though the away side kept on coming and Eddie Wilkinson and Harry Butler were both stopped just short, while Hugh Tatlow and George Booth also went close.

The Pythons were not to be denied, however, and after assuming scrum-half duties and picking up at the base of a ruck, Harry Smith dived over in the corner for 24-22.

Pryor’s conversion attempt then shaved the wrong side of the upright and, with only seconds left, Beverley kicked a last-gasp penalty to wrap things up.

Despite Saturday’s result, the two points that the Pythons earned from the match were enough to lift them one place in the Yorkshire One table to seventh.