Jake Brady left with 'mixed emotions' as Harrogate RUFC are denied by late Huddersfield RUFC try
Aces chief says he ‘can’t complain’ at three-point return, but feels his side should have taken all five
Jake Brady said that he was left with “mixed emotions” after his Harrogate RUFC side were denied victory over Huddersfield RUFC by a late try.
Trailing 24-12 at one stage, the Aces fought back to take a seven-point lead heading into the dying moments of Saturday’s National Two North clash at Rudding Lane.
But, the visitors went over in the 76th minute to earn themselves a 31-31 draw, thus denying ‘Gate a return to winning ways after back-to-back defeats.
Despite that late setback, Harrogate still finished the match with three points to their name, however their director of rugby feels they probably should have taken all five.
“I am left with mixed emotions,” Brady told the Harrogate Advertiser. “The game went backwards and forwards throughout, and the lead changed hands a few times.
“When we went 31-24 up late on, it looked like we had got ourselves into a position to go on and win it. But then Huddersfield got that try near the end to level the scores and they actually had a penalty in the last seconds to nick it, which they missed.
“So, on reflection, three points isn’t bad and I can’t really complain too much because you can win a game and only get four points if you don’t score four tries.
“But, at the same time, I am still slightly disappointed not to take all five points because I felt that we had more advantages over the course of the 80 minutes. We were dominant in the set-piece, and to not make the most of that is a bit annoying.”
Trailing to Will Milner’s early penalty, Harrogate got up and running when winger Amrit Sharma crossed the whitewash in the 12th minute.
A penalty try saw Huddersfield go back in front before Sam Parsons-Bastiman touched down and Jack Mallinson converted to put the Aces 12-10 up on 35 minutes.
But, it was to be the West Yorkshiremen who had the final say of the opening half as Lewis Bradley went over and Milner added the extra two points for a 17-12 interval advantage.
Tom Haywood’s try, converted by Milner almost straight from the restart then left Huddersfield in a position of real strength, though ‘Gate responded in the 51st minute.
Sharma again used his pace out wide to apply the finishing touch, and Mallinson again dissected the posts for 24-19.
James Magee and Ashley Wilson then crossed in quick succession, with Mallinson converting one of those scores to leave Harrogate 31-24 in front with only eight minutes left to play.
But, the visitors got back on terms when Liam Stapley dotted down and the resulting conversion was successfully added.
This Saturday, seventh-placed ‘Gate visit third-from-bottom Heath (2.30pm).