The genteel spa town of Harrogate; Mail reading middle England, the Stray, Bettys Tea rooms, splendid Victoriana, the horticultural heaven of Harlow Carr.
None of this was reflected in the hard bitten bunch that turned out for the towns’ rugby club (though prop Reaveley looked no stranger to a cream tea). The whole team proved to be a hand full.
Harrogate tested Hull Ionians to the limit in this full blooded encounter at Brantingham Park before eventually succumbing to the home teams greater power and prowess.
Ionians made an express start to the match and in the opening quarter of an hour scored tries by second row pair Joe Makin and Joe Sanders. Isaac Green added both conversions and kicked a penalty after 27 minutes to push the lead to 17 points.
A competitive pack brought the visitors more in to the game and the backline, led by fly half Irvine, pushed Ionians on to the back foot and only an excellent tackle from winger Jon Steel stopped Harrogate crossing in the corner. They were not to be denied and having established a foothold in the Ionians 22 they were able to power over the line from a 5m lineout, second row Tom Harvey awarded with the score.
Harrogate started the second half in adventurous fashion and ran the ball from their own line; winger Edwards darted through the first line of defence and despite being slowed on the 22 Harrogate won the ruck ball and whipped the ball across to the wing and raced away for a magnificent length of the field try scored and goaled by Irvine.
Ionians were beginning to edge the set play and as the hour approached they were able to drive the disintegrating scrum over the visitor’s line from 15m out, No8 Danny Hague touching down and with Ferguson adding the conversion I’s had a 10 point advantage.
Ionians had one more trick up their sleeve to gain the bonus point try. From a scrum they moved the ball smartly across field and full back Bateman ghosted into the line to create the space to put winger Steel in at the corner.
The game was being fought out between two committed sides but hard as Harrogate pressed they were unable to break down a resilient defence though they came close on several occasions. They were pulled up for crossing after cutting through the midfield and minutes later centre Minikin lost his footing after he looked to have jinked his way past the home defence.
For the final quarter of an hour neither side were able to fashion a score so the match finished with a 29 -14 victory to Ionians.
Speccies watching Ionians this season are been served up a treat. Week by week the intensity increases, expectations rise and the performance improves.
There was another imposing performance from the front row. Those that doubted Quigs’s stamina may have to think again. Captain Consistent maintained his impeccable standard and was matched by t’ other Joe in the second row. It was an all action display from the back row boys in a match made for scrapping, scrambling players like Laurence and Co.
Isaac continues to impress with his kicking duties and improves with his distribution. He’s still putting his head in the wrong places. Ruggy Thomas replaced him and put in a stellar performance; outside them there were some solid performances without hitting the heights of last weeks second half. Jon Steel showed some good touches in attack and his usual solidity in defence but generally it was efficient rather than spectacular. Much of this was due to the efforts of the Harrogate side. Their supporters found praise for Bottomley, Irvine and replacement scrum half, Wickham in the backline and collectively the pack competed well against what their coach, Mike Aspinall, referred to as “the best set of forwards in the league.”
Things are such that I am contemplating giving up a freebie to Twickers and travelling to Mortimer Park instead. Just in case I don’t is there anyone who fancies writing the report?