Harrogate Pythons RUFC let down by 'errors at crucial times' during defeat to Old Rishworthian RUFC

That was the view of John Liley after seeing his side finish up on the wrong end of a 41-22 score-line in Saturday afternoon’s Yorkshire One clash.

The hosts appeared to be on course for what would have been a fine victory against opposition who sit fourth in the table, leading as they did by nine points at half-time.

But, a lack of concentration during the final quarter of the match meant that the Pythons ultimately ended up empty-handed.

“This was another frustrating afternoon where we showed the required qualities to win a game of rugby, while also making enough errors to end up losing it,” a disappointed Liley said.

“Our defence stood strong for long periods, but these errors at crucial times in the match and in crucial areas on the field cost us the game.

“With several enforced changes to the line-up once again, we were always going to be up against it, but the players on the pitch stood strong and proud in delivering maximum effort and producing some quality play at times.

“I know that we are certainly capable of better results, and whilst this loss dented this season's good home record, I am confident that we will bounce back.”

The Pythons began Saturday’s game well, turning over the ball straight from kick-off.

And it took them just three minutes to get their noses in front. A perfectly-timed pass from Harry Jackson put Harry Brayshaw into space, and he used his pace to round the defence and break into the Rishworthian 22, where he stepped the full-back and he scored under the posts.

Max Sharp then booted over the conversion for a 7-0 advantage.

The visitors levelled things up just three minutes later following a quickly-taken tap penalty, but by the midway point of the first half, the Pythons were back in front.

A spell of home pressure saw Rishworthians conceded a couple of penalties, with Freddie Abrahams opting to take the last one quickly before feeding Harry Butler, who barged his way through bodies on the try-line to reach out and score.

The away side again responded fairly swiftly, kicking a 25th-minute penalty for offside to reduce the gap at 12-10.

It was however the hosts who continued to have the better of things as the interval approached, and they crossed the whitewash for a third time on the half-hour mark.

A sustained, 14-phase attack saw them move ever closer to the Rishworthian line, and when a gap finally appeared in their defence, a short pass from Jackson to Hugh Tatlow saw the latter bullock over.

Sharp then added the extra two points when he dissected the uprights for a 19-10 lead at the break.

That lead should have been a bigger one, but the ball was knocked-on right on the try-line in the process of a Pythons man attempting to score what would have been his side’s fourth try of the afternoon just before the half-time whistle sounded.

Early in the second period, ‘Gate lost the influential Sharp to injury, and from that point onwards, Rishworthians began to have a bit more joy.

They kicked another penalty to trim the home lead to six points, then eventually edged ahead for the first time in the game when they touched down for a second time.

With the game still very much in the balance with a quarter of an hour to go, the Pythons were forced to shuffle their pack again due to more injury issues.

And the visitors went on to take full advantage of this, capitalising on those aforementioned errors by the home side to run in three unanswered tries during the closing stages.

Abrahams did managed to boot over a penalty kick to reduce the arrears late on, though that was as good as it was to get for Liley’s men.

Defeat leaves the Pythons ninth in the table ahead of this Saturday’s home showdown with league leaders Wath Upon Dearne.