Harrogate RUFC improvements the biggest positive for Jake Brady during Billingham RUFC success
Two bonus-point victories in as many matches means Harrogate RUFC could not have made a better start to life back in National Two North.
But, but for Aces director of rugby Jake Brady, there are bigger positives to take.
‘Gate, who were promoted from North One East via the play-offs at the end of last season, followed-up their opening-day win at derby rivals Otley with a 41-31 home success over Billingham on Saturday afternoon.
In doing so, the men from Rudding Lane delivered a much-improved performance, and that progression – particularly his players’ willingness to heed the feedback they were given after last week’s encounter – left Brady particularly satisfied.
"I’m definitely very happy to have taken 10 points from a possible 10 having just come up into a higher league. I can’t not be pleased with that,” he told the Harrogate Advertiser.
"But, the big thing for me was that we produced a bit of a better performance. Against Otley, we managed to get over the line, but by our own standards, we were nowhere near our best.
"On Saturday, our attack was much better. We kept the ball for longer periods, we went through the phases and created opportunities which we scored tries from.
"There was definite progress from the opening weekend, and I could feel by the players’ actions on the pitch that they were reacting to the feedback they had been given during the week and trying to do what they had been asked.
“There is still plenty of room for improvement, but this was definitely a step-up from last week, and that is the most pleasing thing for me.”
Harrogate fell behind to a Pete Evans try on 14 minutes, but recovered to take a 7-5 lead soon afterwards when hooker Steve Maycock went over and Jack Mallinson converted.
Billingham fly-half Evans crossed again almost immediately to restore the away advantage, but again ‘Gate reacted well and winger Amrit Sharma touched down for Mallinson to convert once more for 14-10.
It was the visitors who would have the final say before half-time, however, as Jamie Lane scored and Evans converted to make it 17-14 at the interval.
Just three minutes into second period, Harrogate number eight Will Hill grabbed his team’s third try of the day, and fly-half Mallinson once again added the extras.
A penalty try followed, leaving the Aces in a position of strength at 28-17, only for Billingham’s Evans to then complete his hat-trick and convert himself to narrow the gap once more.
Evans then repeated the trick moments later as the visitors edged into a 29-28 lead, though it was not long before centre Conor Miller went down the other end of the field and put ‘Gate back in the ascendancy.
Sam Parsons-Bastiman then crossed in the 74th minute to give Brady’s men a bit of breathing space, before Mallinson wrapped things up when he kicked a late penalty.
"It was certainly an enjoyable game to play in,” Brady said.
"Billingham really like an open game and chucking the ball around. They will try anything from anywhere, which makes for an exciting contest.
“Sometimes that comes off for them, but as we saw on Saturday, when it doesn’t, it can lead to opportunities to hurt them, and that is something we were good at.”
Harrogate return to action this Saturday afternoon when they visit Preston Grasshoppers.