Harrogate RUFC close in on play-off spot following comeback victory at Kendal RUFC

The Aces recovered from a poor start away at Kendal to register a 33-15 victory on Saturday afternoon, with that result leaving them seven points clear of fourth-placed Ilkley.

And with two very winnable-looking fixtures to come against eighth-placed Sandal and relegation-threatened Middlesbrough, Jake Brady’s men will feel that they are almost there.

They may well have made things hard for themselves at the weekend by gifting Kendal a couple of early scores, but ‘Gate’s director of rugby always felt his side were in control of proceedings.

“I wasn’t overly worried at 12-0 because it was still quite early in the game, and their tries came against the run of play,” Brady told the Harrogate Advertiser.

"We started reasonably well and dominated possession and territory. It was frustrating how easily they scored, but it wasn’t like we were being dominated.

"Apart from those two defensive errors that led to their scores, Kendal didn’t really get a look in. We had 77 percent possession over the course of the match so I felt like we were in control.

“We didn’t get our first try until shortly before half-time, but the second half was all us really and once we got in front we looked very comfortable from there.”

Trailing though they were by 12 points after 17 minutes, Harrogate barely put a foot wrong thereafter and went on to dominate the remainder of the contest.

Hooker Steve Maycock got them back in the game when he touched down after half an hour, with fly-half Jack Mallinson adding the conversion.

There were no more points scored before the interval, and it was Kendal who drew first blood following the resumption as they kicked a penalty goal.

But, prop Dominic Dalby went over soon afterwards, and Mallinson again landed the extra two points to make it 15-14.

Jacob Percival, another Harrogate front-row player, then crossed to put the visitors ahead, with Mallinson converting for a 21-15 lead.

Number eight Will Hill then bagged himself a brace of tries during the closing stages, and another Mallinson conversion wrapped things up at 33-15.

A victory of any kind against Sandal this Saturday will ensure that ‘Gate finish in a play-off spot, and Brady says that is exactly what he and his players will be looking to achieve in their penultimate regular-season fixture.

But the Aces’ director of rugby is not anticipating an easy afternoon’s work.

"Four points against Sandal will be enough for us, and of course that is what we are aiming for,” he added.

"But Sandal are scrapping at the other end of the table and need points as well, so I am expecting it to be a good game.

"I imagine that they will look to open things up and try and play and create a bit of chaos like they did when we went to their place earlier in the season.

"So we will need to be on our game, and we still need to keep improving as a team to get to where we want to be.”