Harrogate RUFC get promotion push back on track courtesy of 12-try thrashing of Cleckheaton RUFC

The Aces headed into Saturday's contest following consecutive defeats to Blaydon and Alnwick, which look to have ended any realistic hopes of them catching runaway league leaders Heath.

But, they managed to consolidate third position and trim the gap to second-placed Alnwick to two points thanks to that 82-0 victory, which leaves them in control of their own destiny as far as a play-off spot is concerned.

Director of rugby Jake Brady is however insisting that his players just take things week by week, rather than worrying too much about league standings.

"Cleckheaton was all that we were focusing on, now it's Driffield away in our next game, which we know is going to be really difficult," he told the Harrogate Advertiser.

"It's a tough place to go and they are strong at home, so we know that we need to be at it.

"I've had to remind the boys just how good we can be when we get things right, and it is about us getting back to playing the way we were before Christmas.

"When we are at our best, or somewhere close to it, I think we can get results against anyone in this division. So we just need to concentrate on our performance level.

"I am confident that we can finish in a play-off position, however, I think it is important just to worry about the next game that's coming and about performing in that."

It took Harrogate less than 60 seconds to open the scoring against Cleckheaton, centre Kristan Dobson touching down and then converting himself for a 7-0 lead.

Flanker Ben Richardson, prop Eoin Harrison and winger Amrit Sharma then all went over in the space of eight minutes to put the Aces in full control, with lock Martin Dodds and hooker Jacob Percival adding to the home tally before the half-hour.

Percival scored again to increase the lead to 49-0 at the interval, before number eight Will Hill got his team up and running for the second period with a try in the 48th minute.

Percival went on to complete his hat-trick on the hour-mark, then Hill and Richardson both grabbed their second touchdowns of the day.

With four minutes left on the clock, fly-half Jack Mallinson registered the final try of the afternoon, with the reliable Dobson rounding things off with his 11th conversion from 12 attempts.