Harrogate RUFC 'do what's required' to grab late bonus point during York RUFC success
Jake Brady praised his Harrogate RUFC players for doing “what was required” to earn themselves a maximum return from Saturday’s derby clash with York.
The Aces left it extremely late to secure a valuable bonus point at Clifton Park, with their fourth try only arriving in the very last minute of what was a closely contested North One East encounter.
And that 28-12 success was sufficient to lift ‘Gate up to third in the table and also trimmed the gap between them and unbeaten league leaders Heath to seven points.
“The group proved again that they can do what’s required,” Harrogate director of rugby Brady said.
“The game was in the balance for a long period but eventually we took hold of it and came away with the five points.
“York had a direct game-plan, which they got success from at times. But, our strength at the set-piece limited their possession and provided us with lots of ball to play with.
“We looked dangerous throughout the game, both in the backs and the forwards. Too often, though, we ended an attacking set by trying to force a pass and losing possession, thus letting York off the hook.
“I was very pleased with some of the efforts we made to get back and make try-saving tackles. Almost as much as the final try that we had to score to get the bonus point.”
Harrogate fell behind in the 19th minute of Saturday’s game when Ed Westaby touched down for York, though they responded just after the half-hour with a try from wing Amrit Sharma that was converted by Rory Macnab.
There were no further score before the interval, but Sharma crossed again early in the second period and Macnab converted again for a 14-5 lead.
With six minutes remaining, Kristan Dobson went over to seemingly make the game safe. Again Macnab added the extra two, only for York to reply almost immediately through a second Westaby try, converted by William Fordy.
‘Gate were not finished there, however, and Dobson grabbed his second of the afternoon at the death before Macnab made it four out of four from the tee.
This Saturday, the Aces entertain eighth-placed Kendal at Rudding Lane.
The Cumbrians head to North Yorkshire having won four and lost five of their first nine league outings.
Of those victories, just one of them has come away from home, when they visited York back in mid-September.
Last time out, they romped to a comprehensive 46-8 triumph over bottom-of-the-table Cleckheaton.