Harrogate win away from home in Preston
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Danny Mathews goes through the Hoppers defence
©David Aspinall
Preston Grasshoppers 15 Harrogate 25
Lightfoot Green hosted a good old-fashoined Roses derby this weekend as seventh place Harrogate travelled over the border and into the Red Rose county to face twelth place Preston Grasshoppers and it didn't dissapoint.
Hoppers, who have struggled of late, slipping deep into the bottom half of the table were in desperate need of a win over the visiting Yorkshire side.
Things were looking good for the home side as early pressure led to a well deserved 7-0 lead. However, a weakened Harrogate side gradually took almost complete control and went comfortably ahead.
National 2 North Results:
Birmingham 17 – 22 Macclesfield
Leicester Lions 45 – 21 Luctonians
Preston Grasshoppers 15 – 25 Harrogate
Sedgley Park 32 – 30 Hull
Caldy 66 – 15 Dudley Kingswinford
Chester 9 - 15 Darlington Mowden Park
Sheffield Tigers 28 – 10 Bromsgrove
Stourbridge 34 – 25 Otley
At the start, Harrogate lost possession after an unconvincing midfield dummy and Preston mounted attacks. Full back, Sean Taylor left defenders floundering and delivered a well timed scoring pass to winger Conor Trueman. The impressive Lloyd Davies’s conversion made it 7-0 after 9 minutes
Continued Preston attacks were well contained by Harrogate’s defence and Joe Rowntree set up a counter attack by plucking a high kick out of the grasp of his opposite number on the wing. Callum Irvine’s break was then brilliantly taken on by Sam Bottomley. Harrogate’s outstanding full back, Lewis Minikin supported well and outstripped the defence to score in the corner.
The Harrogate attacking machine was now working well with a dominant scrum producing a stream of good ball. Dan Metcalfe gave a powerhouse performance in tight and loose play with Aarin Yorke’s speedy incursions a constant threat. The workhorses, Jake Brady and Tim Heaton consistently tore into the heart of Hopper’s defence with Noel Minikin and, debutant Steve Dewsnip grafting for loose ball.
Danny Matthews’ quick scrum half breaks were a constant threat and repeated backs attacks continued. Harrogate eventually went ahead from a smoothly taken Irvine drop goal. Attacking Preston play followed but Harrogate won turnover ball and Steve Parsons made a powerful break. Matthews was in support and his deceptive speed took him clear of the defence to score in the right corner. Rowntree converted brilliantly from the touchline.
The second half started with Harrogate making a mess of the restart kick and Preston mounted attacks. Harrogate’s defence contained them well but replacement prop, Will Dutton went offside, was dispatched to the sin bin and Davies kicked a penalty goal. A searing Lewis Minikin break from defence put Harrogate back on the offensive and the Hoppers were penalised for a deliberate knock-on. Rowntree’s kick restored the 8 points lead.
Harrogate’s final score came from a mesmerising Irvine run where he dummied his way through for an under the posts converted try. Preston’s final consolation was created by Davies who counter attacked strongly from a loose kick. Replacement flanker, Luke Proctor crashed over in the corner.
Preston Grasshoppers: Taylor, Trueman, Baines, Ward, Kendall, Davies, Aikman (Whyte 40), Irving, Mills (Wilkinson 3), Altham (Madden 39), Wallbank, Murray, Wallace (Webster 40), Lees (Proctor 69), Moon.
Harrogate: L Minikin, Parsons, Dench, Bottomley (Audsley-Beck 78), Rowntree (Edwards 78), Irvine, Matthews (Wickham 67), Metcalfe (Dutton 51), Yorke, Reaveley (Browne 47), Brady, Wilson, Dewsnip, N Minikin, Heaton
Referee: Graham Dickens (RFU)
