Saturday 30 November 2024: After last week’s weather postponement, Harrogate overcame a depleted Otley side to record their second win of the season and move off the foot of the table.
In the 8th minute, Junior Nuu put over a cross-kick that just eluded Fred Chell for the opening score. However, play was brought back for a penalty advantage, from which Henry Derbyshire drove over to give Harrogate the lead in the 9th minute. Tom Steene converted, and extended Gate’s lead 7 minutes later with a penalty following a yellow card for Otley’s Joshua Sarsfield.
Harrogate went further ahead when, from a scrum in Otley’s 22, the ball was fed to Junior Nuu who burst through for his first try in the 22nd minute, converted by Tom Steene.
Otley received 2 further yellow cards for Leon Mudd and Noah Greenald to reduce them to 13 men, with Harrogate taking advantage for Junior Nuu to score his second try in the 37th minute. Tom Steene’s conversion hit the post, meaning Gate led 22 – 0 at the break.
Harrogate’s forwards continued to exert pressure at the beginning of the second half. This resulted in Will Hill scoring his first try in the 43rd minute. Tom Steene added the extras, but was unsuccessful with a rushed drop goal attempt in the 51st minute.
Harrogate were reduced to 14 men in the 53rd minute when Semi Tokaduadua was yellow-carded. However, with Gate continuing to apply forward dominance, this did not prevent them getting their final try in the 59th minute when Will Hill got his second, with Tom Steene kicking the conversion.
Tom Steene took his personal tally to 14 points with a penalty with 3 minutes to go. However, it was Otley who completed the scoring. Their whole-hearted performance deserved a consolation score, which came from Sam Hodge completing a flowing move in the right-hand corner. Joe Rowntree converted as time ran out.
Harrogate now sit 11th in the table and next week visit Hull who are 1 place below. Kick-off is 2pm.
Teams:
Harrogate: Toomey, Chell, Brook, Nuu, Sharma, Steene, Wickham, Derbyshire, Maycock, Percival, Gilmartin, Brady (c), Pritchard, Dodds, Hill.
Replacements: Fretwell, Peace, Tokaduadua, Miller, Pettitt.
Otley: Graham, Parnell, Taylor, Sellers, Sarsfield, Potter, Connor, Mudd, Butler, Baxter, Johnson, Willet (c), Green, Hodge, Mears.
Replacements: Greenald, Moss, Mullin, Spiers, Rowntree.
Referee: Gavin Jones (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Graham Bentley (RFU)
Don Helme (RFU)
Report by Tim Thorley, Harrogate RUFC
