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Wharfedale RUFC
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10:00 AM 23rd December 2024
sports

Match Report: Wharfedale 18 Harrogate 15

Ed Williams has been reporting for the Yorkshire Times, part of the p.ublished group of online newspapers, on his local club, Wharfedale RUFC

photo Wharfedale RUFC
photo Wharfedale RUFC
Heartbreak for Dale last week but the last kick of the game this week meant euphoria for the Green Machine with Harrogate suffering the pain. A well contested game was just edged by Dale who showed more enterprise on the day. The Wharfedale backs enjoyed a fair amount of the ball whereas the visitors seemed content to keep the ball tight and rumble on.

Wharfedale opened with the forwards and backs combining and forcing Harrogate to give away penalties, this included a silky break from Rian Hamilton who was stopped just short of the line. The second one (both for high tackles) gave Dale an attacking 5-metre lineout. An effective set-piece was followed by good passing (and another penalty advantage for a high tackle) and ended with Owen Bullock opening the scoring. Harrogate responded with a try from their backs when Dale had kicked long, and gave them space and time to run. Fullback Thomas Steene collected the kick and ran left around the Dale midfield and offloaded to Finn Green who ended the move with a well taken try. Both conversions fell foul of the strong wind.

Possession was with the home side for some time but they could not capitalize and mistakes cost them a massive amount of territory. A penalty kick to touch and two kicks downfield went dead and Harrogate had the scrum in midfield. The first scrum led to a Wharfedale penalty on Gate’s 22 but the kick to the corner went dead. Harrogate’s clearance kick was sent back by Hamilton and a superb 50-22 looked on but the bounce took the ball away from touch and over the dead ball line.

Harrogate scored next after camping on Dale’s line with Jacob Percival being awarded the score. Oliver Toomey was close enough to land the conversion which took them into the lead by 7 points. This was Harrogate’s weapon; their heavy forwards looked good over two metres. They were soon back in Dale’s 22 but they could not convert again and a mistake gave Dale a scrum. Sam Brady then gave away a penalty and added to this by arguing and going back 10 metres. Harrogate were soon back in Dale’s 22 with an attacking lineout. More pick and goes but when they did use the backs the ball was dropped and allowed Dale to send the ball downfield. A good kick chase was thwarted with a marginal (but probably correct) high tackle. Dale struck back before half time with an efficient catch and drive from 8 metres out after Gate had given away a succession of penalties; Dan Stockdale adding to his tally for the season with an unconverted try. Harrogate finished the half in possession and went through 14 phases before a knock-on took the players in for a cup of tea.

At the start of the 2nd half a couple of mistakes and an infringement gave Gate a penalty in front of the posts. Toomey knocked over the penalty to extend the visitors lead again. Harrogate continued to give penalties away and eventually Sam Brady was issued with a yellow card. Harrogate tried to hold back the Green Wave of attacks and had a relieving penalty which they cleared to outside their 22. Elliot Stockton rose and won the lineout and then charged forward into the 22. Quick ball was then sent to Oli Cicognini who danced through the defence to score the game tying unconverted try.

More penalties by Gate followed and another warning from the ref to the Harrogate captain who complained that they were not being treated fairly! Despite shouts from the ref, Harrogate’s No. 18, William Hill, was sin binned for being offside. A nice break by Kaup-Samuels nearly led to a try and Hamilton and Robbie Collinson got close to the line as well. With 80 minutes up it was Rian Hamilton who kicked the winning points for Wharfedale with a penalty in front of the posts (the kick would have been taken again as a Harrogate player decided to charge the kick!).

Star Man award in the rugby paper went to Sam Dickinson but it should have been shared with Jake Armstrong and Dan Stockdale as the Green Machine front row had a magnificent day. Taking on a much heavier pack they were not daunted and drove the Gate 8 pack time after time. An honourable mention to Rian Hamilton whose goal-kicking was disrupted by the wind but all his efforts came close. He withstood the pressure and sent the final kick straight through the uprights. Cicognini again impressed with moves that would be celebrated on Strictly!

So, the Christmas break now gives Dale a much-needed three-week rest before the trip up to Tynedale on January 11th. Not forgetting the Boxing Day festival of rugby with the Foresters and Wharfedale 3rd team travelling up to North Ribblesdale.

Wharfedale Bullough; Hamilton, Prell (Viner 73), Cicognini, Bullock; Kaup-Samuels, Riddiough; Dickinson, Stockdale, Armstrong, Burton, Stockton (Collinson 76), Pinder, Fawcett (Weston 40), Beresford Replacements not used Barker, Borrill