Foresters 24-40 Harrogate 2nd XV

A young Foresters team, at least until Andrew Rhodes came on (!), played pluckily but too naively to lead narrowly at half time 21-19.  Our main problem was a lack of discipline when the ball was there to be fought for in the ruck; numerous penalties were given away which must have contributed to the eventual capitulation in the later stages of the second half.

Harrogate had a number of students back on vacation and looked a really decent side, particularly in the backs, but their forwards played their part by winning an increasing amount of possession as the game wore on. The late penalty try which made the final score 24-40 clinched it for ‘Gate.

At half time the lead was their’s by just two points.  Earlier on, Tom Darwin scored under the posts leaving an easy conversion for Max Bell before Parsons-Bastiman touched down. This try was converted by Tommy Carswell.  Amrit Sharrie then scored with Carswell again adding the extras (7-14).  Successive penalties conceded by ‘Gate led to a Sid Holden try, but the conversion just drifted left, not surprising in the tricky wind.  A yellow card for Max Bell did not help the cause, but fortunately for the Greens ‘Gate’s play became very loose.  Rhodes made a characteristic burst down the middle and, despite a knock on near the line, Wharfedale’s scrum got the push on (this was a feature of the first half) and Isaac Light scored.  The conversion just failed.

The second half started with Wharfedale pressure, more very loose play, but one try for the Dale scored by Olli Bullock after Max Mountain had shown footballing skills to give the Greens a 24-21 lead.  This was the end of the good news with Harrogate looking more and more impressive with successful bursts by forwards and backs alike with excellent handling belying the desperate conditions.  Two tries followed by a penalty try gave Harrogate a 24-40 victory which they thoroughly deserved.  Unless the Foresters improve their discipline there will be further disappointments, as their tackling on the day was not upto the excellent example set by our 1st XV.

John Clark 

Wharfedale: -

H Ellison, S Holden, J Huck, W Beecroft, Z Phillip, F Brewster, L Craven, J Kitching, F Walker, M Bell, M Robinson, O Bullock, I Light, T Darwin, L Hall.
Replacements: -

A Rhodes, S Bennett, M Mountain, K Brennan.