Harrogate RUFC's play-off hopes back in their own hands following success at Ilkley RFC
Harrogate RUFC are back in control of their own destiny as far as their North One East play-off hopes are concerned.
The Aces got the better of fellow promotion hopefuls Ilkley on Saturday afternoon, climbing above them in the table in the process and back into third place.
Jake Brady and his men headed into the game a point behind their hosts, but now sit three better off following a bonus-point 24-18 success.
Thus, with just four games left to play, Harrogate know that they will finish in the top three if they keep on doing the business, regardless of what Ilkley achieve elsewhere.
“It was a good win on Saturday,” director of rugby Brady said. “It was an important one in terms of the play-off places.
“It was crucial that we were able to leapfrog them into that play-off spot.
“It was a good way to bounce back especially as the last time we played was against [unbeaten league leaders] Heath, when we started well but came unstuck as they outplayed us in the second half.
“So the lads did well to pick themselves up and get ready for the Ilkley game.”
And Brady is backing his troops to go on and cement that top-three spot, starting this Saturday when derby rivals York visit Rudding Lane.
“We’ve got a four-game run now against lower-half teams, whereas our rivals have all got to play each other,” he added.
“So, on paper, we have the slightly easier run-in.”
Harrogate did not make the best of starts to Saturday’s game at Ilkley, falling behind with just three minutes on the clock when Freddie Brown touched down and former Aces fly-half Charlie Morgan converted.
But, the away side hit back through free-scoring winger Amrit Sharma, then took the lead when centre Kristan Dobson went over for Jack Mallinson to add the extras.
A Morgan penalty was followed up by a try from Matthew Sheard, which saw Ilkley reclaim the ascendancy, only for ‘Gate to wrestle it back just before interval through Jake Brady.
That try meant that the visitors took a slender 17-15 advantage into a second period which turned out to be rather less eventful in terms of the scoreboard.
It took until the 64th minute for the all-important next touchdown to arrive, and it came from Harrogate flanker Zak Sebouai, who earned his side their four-try bonus point.
Mallinson booted over the extra two for 24-15, and although Morgan landed a late penalty, the men from Rudding Lane managed to see the match out.