Harrogate RUFC chief Jake Brady encouraged by much-improved display during away defeat to Tynedale RFC
Aces director of rugby able to take positives from first-half display and capture of bonus point
Jake Brady felt there was a marked improvement in Harrogate RUFC’s performance during Saturday’s National Two North defeat at Tynedale RFC.
The Aces had to endure a chastening afternoon last time out as they were thrashed 72-0 on home soil by Darlington Mowden Park.
And although the men from Rudding Lane were beaten again at the weekend, going down 47-26, they gave a much better account of themselves.
Harrogate actually led at half-time having produced what Brady said was some of their “best rugby of the season” to date.
Tyndale went on to take control of proceedings after the interval, however the visiting players did not let their head drop and managed to go on and secure a four-try bonus point.
“The first half was good,” the Aces’ director of rugby told the Harrogate Advertiser. “We probably played some of our best rugby of the season.
“We defended well when we had to and executed the things we needed to do in decent fashion. At times we dominated both territory and possession.
“We were 7-5 up at half-time, but that could easily have been 14-5 if we had been a bit cleaner with another attacking opportunity we had.
“Tynedale then came out hard in the second half and we had a period of 15 minutes where we didn’t relieve the pressure we were under, and they punished us.
“We got it back to 19-12 at one point, but they pulled clear and in the end we were just playing for that bonus point. But I was pleased to get that, and to see a better performance overall than the previous week.”
Assessing the things that he felt his side did well during that encouraging first-period performance, Brady added: “We exited our half a lot better, which is something that we have been working on for a couple of weeks now.
“We got some good outcomes from that because it enabled us to put pressure on them by winning the ball back in better areas.
“We also stuck in our shape and system a lot better, which enabled us to defend more solidly.
“And out set-piece was much improved from last week. We won most of our line-outs, and were able to ask questions of Tynedal with our maul, from which we managed to score three tries.”
Saturday’s defeat leaves Harrogate seventh in the National Two North, where they sit on a total of 18 points from their opening seven matches.
They are without a fixture this weekend, but return to action on October 31 when they entertain Huddersfield (2pm).