This superb match was eventually won by flair over muscle as Scunthorpe's huge pack could not cope with the more mobile Bees. Whilst the Bees backs and Matt Robbinson's boot might take the glory the real heroes were the Bees pack who endured an 80 minute onslaught.

Scunthorpe were out running drills and preparing from this match before any Bees players arrived at the club at 2pm. The Bees team was short of five key players due to holidays and injury and as a result started with 4 second row players in the scrum and a scrum half and a winger both playing center for the first time this season. With a shortage of backs, Stuart Dixon found his boots for only the second time this season and coached the team from stand off until he needed to lay down and die after 50 minutes.

It was no great surprise when Scunthorpe ran in two early tries to lead 12:0 after 10 minutes with the Bees not having had any ball at all. Just as Scunthorpe played in the reverse fixture at xmas, their game is all about forward power and the backs only role is to defend. With Bees scrum going backwards and Scunthorpe's rolling maul eating up yards the omens were poor. The Bees eventually got hold of the ball and moved effectively across the pitch and avoiding their large pack and closed on their 22m. With their defence scrambling, Matt Robinson's deft kick found Tom Gough racing through to outpace their full back. Score 7:12.

The Bees forwards sorted out the scrum and were now managing to retain our ball and also were putting pressure on their line out and added two more tries from Tom Gough and Adam Wellington to put Bees ahead 21:12. The Wellington try began with Dion Hendricks under his own posts and involved the entire back line and was the try of the season so far.

Scunthrorpe reverted to forward power and stepped up another gear and forced a penalty try from a Bees scrum offense and added another try to approach half time 24:21 ahead. With the last play of the half, the Bees were awarded penalty just in Robbo's range. 24:24 at half time.

Once again Scunthorpe started well and scored another try soon after the restart to regain the lead at 24:29. The Bees retook the lead with Dixon scoring under the posts before he hobbled back to his clip board. Another Welliington try pushed the Bees further ahead to 38:29.

Scunthorpe came back with a try 38:34 but with the Bees bench now getting some action, the Bees pace stepped up again and the win was sealed with two more Bees tries from Gough (his third) and Sam Hesketh picking up a ball passed to his boots to then power over.

Final score 50:34. Dicko will now have some selection problems ahead of next weeks 1st team game at Morley. Whilst the backs took the applause, Dicko singled out Rob Harrison's as his man of the match.

Harrogate posted another big win this week and remain clear in second place in the league behind Wharfedale. Bees may well have secured 3rd place with todays win and bonus point. Well done lads and bring on the 'gate next week.

by
Stevo