1st Team
Matches
Sat 15 Feb 2020  ·  North Premier
Alnwick Rugby Football Club
1st Team
0
25
Harrogate
Alnwick 0 V 25 Harrogate

Alnwick 0 V 25 Harrogate

David Stuart18 Feb 2020 - 12:43
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Match Report by Gwyn Thomas

Tries: Brady, Edwards, Rosillo. Conversions: Fox (2). Penalties: Fox (2)

As Alnwick, having lost the away match in October, try to drag themselves clear of the relegation places, they would have been only too well aware of the task facing them if they were to get anything against a side who were currently vying for promotion 8 league places above them.

It was immediately apparent from the beginning of this match that there would be two highly influential factors at play, namely the strong wind blowing directly up the pitch and the size and weight of Harrogate’s forwards.

On a pitch sodden after recent rains, Alnwick kicked off into the wind only to see the kick get blown back and fail to go 10 metres. Harrogate comfortably won the ensuing scrum and after forward drives were halted, a speculative punt was fielded by Alnwick who were then penalised at a ruck as they tried to run the ball out of defence. Fox’s well-judged kick from 25 metres put Harrogate 0 – 3 up within 3 minutes.

From the re-start, things got rapidly worse for Alnwick as their backs knocked on whilst trying to run clear from a quick throw-in. Comfortably winning the ensuing scrum 10 metres out, Harrogate set up four driving mauls before Brady was driven over and Fox converted for 0 -10 after only 5 minutes.

Alnwick barely had time to draw breath before Harrogate’s powerful pack drove forward from a scrum on Alnwick’s 10 metre line with forwards and backs combining well to switch play right then left. Winger Jukes almost got to the line but Edwards was in support to take the inside pass and cut through to score with Fox converting for 0 – 17.

The score moved to 0 – 20 on 15 minutes when Alnwick were penalised at a set scrum and Fox made no mistake from 22 metres.

After these early setbacks, Alnwick re-grouped and from then on until the interval fought a determined rear-guard action as Harrogate pinned them deep in their own half for prolonged periods. With the wind effectively preventing any clearing kicks the only option was to run the ball out of defence but even that was risky and handling errors inevitable.

Aided by penalties and some quick thinking by scrum-half Peter Moralee, Alnwick managed some occasional forward progress but Harrogate’s defence were always on the alert. It was largely due to some heroic Alnwick defending and ball retention, which successfully limited Harrogate’s possession, that there was, surprisingly, no further score before half-time.

During the interval there were murmurs among the Harrogate faithful that, with the roles now reversed, a 20 point lead might not be enough, as the wind still howled and rain showers made conditions more difficult. For most of the half, Alnwick pressure managed to keep Harrogate in check and several times came close to scoring. A storming break by the indomitable Matty Gray was stopped just short and sterling work by Alnwick’s pack in several close-range drives were only just held by the best defence in the league.

Helped by a couple of penalties, Harrogate managed to move upfield where a quick break almost got Jukes clear but quick thinking and passing got the ball to lock Brady whose neat grubber enabled Rosillo to gather and score for 0 – 25.

There were no further scores in the last quarter but Alnwick’s efforts deserved a score and their continued determination was epitomised in the dying seconds when winger Richard Addison at full tilt chased a raking clearance from Callum Burn only to see it roll agonisingly into touch just before he could reach it.

The score-line may suggest an easy win for this well-organised Harrogate side, but this was never the case and their hefty pack was undoubtedly the cornerstone of their success. Although this was the first match this season in which Alnwick failed to register a score, they should take heart from a gutsy performance which deprived the visitors of a valuable try bonus point that they might have reasonably anticipated.

Team: S. Macauley, R. Addison, R. Mallaburn, S. Hutchinson, J. Burn, C. Burn, P. Moralee,
D. Smith, L. Liddle, D. Clayton, M. Gray, J. Young, R. Ellis, W. Pettifer, B. Gothorp.
Subs: J. Cowan, R. Cuthbert, B. Courty.
Referee: Nathan Howarth (Northern Group).
Next match: Saturday 29th February 2020 Carlisle (Away) Kick off 2.15pm.

Match details

Match date

Sat 15 Feb 2020

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

North Premier

League position

2
Harrogate
10
Alnwick
Team overview
Further reading