Harrogate cruise against injury-hit Stockport

Harrogate RUFC cruised to their fourth National League 2 North victory of the season beating an injury-hit Stockport 59-14.

Port had to start the game with a makeshift side with a maximum of 12 first choice players out with injury after the first six weeks of the season and the hosts were determined to exploit this.

Chris Irvine, Noel Minkin, Luke Edwards and Nico Nyemba went over inside the first 20 minutes to secure the bonus point for Harrogate leaving Stockport shell-shocked.

Minkin got his second before James Audsley-Beck got try number one of what would be a hat-trick for him.

Stockport did have something to shout about as Paul Millea got his first try of the campaign on 37 minutes, but Harrogate continued their utter dominance as Audsley-Beck scored again just before half-time to make the score 47-7. He then sealed his hat-trick not long into the second period.

Two quick yellow cards for Harrogate allowed Stockport to score their second try of the game as skipper Andy Fuller took full advantage and went over from a driving maul.

The final try of the game was scored by Lewis Minkin to round off a miserable day for Stockport in North Yorkshire.

"That was probably the most difficult afternoon since I have been involved with the club," said coach Matthew Bebbington.

"It didn’t help as we had three forwards in the back line due to injuries. First half was disappointing, but in the second half we got a response and even with an extra forward in the back line we actually played a little bit better.

"Unfortunately the game was over after 20 minutes because of our start, but next week we have Luctonians at home and we will have a good crack at them and we should have a couple players back as well."

The Red, Green and Whites have had a very tough start to the season now having played six of the top eight sides in the league, but it certainly has not helped with the amount of injuries which they have had.

The weakened Port side worked in Harrogate's favour who, before the match, were on a six game unbeaten run and had their sights set on moving into the top four.

It took just four minutes for the hosts to open the scoring as Chris Wilson won the ball at the line-out and eventually it found its way to the highly-rated Irvine who glided past the Stockport defence to score. Try converted by Joe Rowntree.

Straight from the restart Harrogate compounded Stockport’s issues further as Minkin crossed over for the second try of the game.

It didn’t take long for try number three to come around. Harrogate moved the ball through their back line and it ended with a converted try from Luke Edwards. Stockport were slow to get going once again.

The hosts just seemed much better physically and more fluid in their play and scored their next converted try on 18 minutes as hooker Nyemba after a great move.

Captain Andy Fuller said after the game that their heads had dropped after this try and that was clear by the expressions on the player’s faces as they walked back to the restart.

It went from bad to worse for Stockport as David Hopkins was sin binned for a high tackle which ended with Minkin scoring his second try of the day.

Harrogate were relentless and Audsley-Beck capitalised on a poor clearance to cross over for another converted try on 32 minutes.

Joe Lowes was then sin-binned for an early tackle and moments later Stockport had something to cheer about. A drive from a line-out and great forward play by the Stockport pack ended with Millea going over and Josh Longmore adding the extras.

Harrogate then scored one more try before the break as a wonderful cross field kick from Irvine found Audsley-Beck for his second try of the game and once again it was converted by Rowntree.

It was a much improved second 40 minutes from Stockport who made sure they kept the game much tighter even with four forwards in the back line, but the half did open with Audsley-Beck’s hat-trick as he darted past stand-in winger Sammy Graham to score.

Referee Matt Hurvey then brandished two quick yellow cards to Harrogate’s Nathan Smith and Andy Boyde. Stockport showed a clear improvement after this and Fuller crossed over from a driving maul for the prop’s second try of the season.

This gave Stockport a boost as they started to make some good line-breaks and were much better at keeping hold of possession. They were much more solid in defence as well, but couldn’t prevent the final try of the afternoon as Lewis Minkin got his name on the score sheet after a lovely chip through by Irvine.

Stockport’s next match is against Luctonians at Headlands Road next Saturday. Kick-off 3pm.

Harrogate: Rowntree; Bottomley, L Minikin, L Edwards Audsley-Beck;  Irvine, Matthews; Enslin, N Minklin, Wilson; Harvey, Brady; Reaveley, Nyemba, Boyde.

Replacements: Yorke, Browne, Smith, Lowes, Aspinall.

Stockport: J Edwards; Cantwell, Fletcher, S Green, Marsland; Longmore, M Edwards; Eccles, Baldwin, A Green; Hopkins, Roddy; Anthony, Millea, Fuller (capt).

Replacements: Mitchell, Graham, Nicolson, C Hibbs, Bebbington  

Referee: Matt Hurvey