Jake Brady bullish about Harrogate RUFC’s promotion hopes as derby rivals York RUFC are put to the sword

The Aces, who were relegated from English rugby’s fourth tier in dramatic fashion on the final day of 2024/25, kept their hopes of a top-three finish in North One East on track at the weekend when they demolished derby rivals York.

That bonus-point success was sufficient to keep the men from Rudding Lane third in the table, and on track for a play-off spot with just three games of the season left to play.

With the league title - and the automatic promotion which comes with it - out of reach following leaders Heath’s superb 18-match winning streak, Harrogate know that they will have to do things the hard way if they are to go straight back up.

What is a rather convoluted play-off scenario sees the team finishing second North One East handed a home clash with whoever finishes third. The winner of that meets the victors from the corresponding play-off match-up in Regional One North West.

Whoever advances from that then faces the team that finishes third-bottom in National Two North to decide the final spot in the fourth tier. All are one-off games.

Currently, Harrogate sit third, six points behind Alnwick in second and three ahead of fourth-placed Ilkley.

There is still all to play for with Ilkley entertaining Alnwick this weekend, but as things stand, Brady and his men are set for a difficult-looking assignment up in the North East.

But, the Aces’ director of rugby insists that a potential trip to Alnwick holds no fear for his troops, whom he insists are in a good place heading into the business end of the season.

“We’ve got lads returning from injury and only two long-term ones at the moment, so we’re in a good position as a group to go and attack these last three games.

“If that puts us up to second then brilliant, if we finish third then that’s fine too.

“We’re not scared of having to go away to try and get a win. We’re not deterred by that at all.”

Saturday’s 63-5 triumph over York saw Harrogate serve up the kind of performance that suggests that things are starting to come together for them at just the right time.

Leading by 28 points by half-time, they were creative and clinical in attack, and also impressive out of possession, restricting their visitors to very few chances to put points on the board.

Hooker Charlie Head set the ball rolling with just four minutes on the clock, with his opening try added to by free-scoring winger Amrit Sharma soon afterwards.

Full-back Tom Steene then crossed after a quarter of an hour, before Sharma’s second touchdown on the stroke of half-time secured his team the bonus point.

Steene went over again almost immediately after the resumption, with Head also making it a brace before William Fordy hit back for York.

Flanker Ben Richardson and the fit-again Oliver Rosillo were next to score as the hosts reasserted their dominance either side of the hour mark, with number eight Martin Dodds then rounding things off.

Fly-half Jack Mallinson enjoyed a perfect day with the boot, kicking nine of the nine conversions that he attempted.

Next up for Harrogate is a trip to mid-table Kendal on March 21.