SSE Yorkshire Division Three

Harrogate Pythons 40

Baildon 12

BAILDON, who fielded a mix of veterans, regulars and newcomers, started sluggishly at the Army Foundation College and conceded two tries in the opening ten minutes.

However, the visitors then woke up, veterans Craig Woodhall and Phil Wilson softening Pythons up with crash balls before Matt Withers switched the point of attack for fellow centre Joe Moore to zip over in the corner for a converted try.

Pythons, who were playing down the slope, then got two converted tries to resume control, only for the speedy Moore to cross again in the 26th minute and make it 26-12.

The visitors looked tired by half-time, however, and soon conceded another converted try.

Baildon then stepped up to the mark, though, winning 11 penalties as play was concentrated in the home 22 for a good 30 minutes.

The visitors felt that penalty tries should have been forthcoming so close were they to the Pythons' line, and they then preferred individual efforts to structured team play.

Then, to put the tin lid on it, Pythons cleared their lines via a big boot and scored a converted try to complete the scoring.

Defensively below par, Baildon also missed line-out jumpers such as James Fox to give their set-piece an attacking edge.