Harrogate RUFC left 'needing' to win six out six in order to realise title ambition

The Aces suffered what was just their fourth league defeat of 2019/20 when they were edged out by title rivals Billingham on Saturday.

Despite showing great character to fight back from 15-3 down to lead 18-15, a late try from the home side settled a close-fought contest.

That result leaves ‘Gate fourth in the table, five points behind leaders Blaydon, having played a game less, though just a single point separates second place from fifth.

“We’ve got six massive games left, and we’re going to need to win all of them if we want the title,” Doherty said.

“It’s so tight up at the top of the table. There are five sides who can all finish in first place, and I image that bonus points are going to have a big say in what happens, but all we can concentrate on is ourselves.

“We need to try and bring things back under our own control, starting by making sure that we beat Rossendale at home this weekend.

“We can’t start looking too far ahead, but if we can pick up some good results over the next few weeks then I think we will go into our two final fixtures of the season in a very good place.”

Although ‘Gate ultimately finished on the losing side at Billingham on Saturday, Doherty was full of praise for the way his players performed in challenging circumstances.

“The penalty count was so high against us during the first half that it meant that we were defending almost constantly,” he added.

“When the other side has the ball almost all of the time, it is really tough, so to get in at half-time just 8-3 down was quite an effort.

“When the score went to 15-3, we were under massive pressure, and it would have been easy for the boys to think ‘it’s just not our day today, we’re a long way behind and the referee is giving us nothing’, but they showed great character and resolve to fight back.

“We scored three tries in quick succession, two of which were extremely well-worked, but unfortunately we missed the conversions and a penalty.

“Even when Billingham went back in front, we still had the chance to win the game late on with a two-on-one out wide, however their winger came out of the line and made an interception, and that has ultimately saved them.”

Home fly-half Pete Evans kicked his side into an early 3-0 lead, though Harrogate’s Sam Fox landed one of his own soon afterwards to restore parity.

The visitors had looked the more likely during the early exchanges, however as they continued to fall foul of referee Tom Doig’s interpretation of the laws of the game, Billingham began to take control.

A stream of penalties against the Aces followed before number eight Tim Heaton was yellow-carded for apparently not rolling away.

Billingham then spread the ball left and Martin Hopley took advantage of the extra space to squeeze over in the corner and put his team 8-3 ahead before the interval.

After the interval, more Billingham attacks followed and Evans skilfully created an opening for Luke Wilson to register a converted try, making the score 15-3.

Harrogate countered strongly and following a spell of pressure, the ball was spread left from a tap-penalty and Sam Brady crashed over to score and reduce the deficit at 15-8.

The visitors then missed a kick at goal, but underterred, they continued to turn the screw and Luke Edwards made it over the whitewash to touch down, only for Mr Doig to over-rule his touch judge and disallow the ‘try’ for a foot in touch.

The Aces kept coming, however, and Harry Barnard’s pace took him through the home defence to narrow the gap to 15-13.

Just moments later, ‘Gate went ahead for the first time in the match courtesy of Oli Rosillo’s fine individual finish from 20 yards out.

With time running out, Billingham pushed forwards in an effort to re-gain their lead, and were able to to just that when Hopley touched down for a second time.

Doherty’s men weren’t finished, though, and looked destined to snatch victory at the death, only for Rosillo’s scoring pass to be intercepted ass the hostst held out.