Harrogate 16 Wharfedale 12

THERE was no doubting the pivotal moment of this YORKSHIRE CUP final on a cold night at West Park Leeds.

Wharfedale's scrum half and playmaker James Doherty was not only hit late in the 12th minute by lock Sam Brady but then dropped on his head.

After lengthy treatment, the Greens' skipper was led from the pitch looking very groggy, took no further part in the match and later went to hospital to check on a neck injury.

He had a headache yesterday morning but is expected to be fine, although Wharfedale's supporters and some off-the-field officials were astonished as to why Brady was not given a red card by referee Peter Stentiford, rather than a mere yellow for what was a clear case of the punishment not fitting the crime.

Wharfedale coach Jon Feeley said afterwards: "I am bitterly disappointed that the game was decided by a piece of foul play.

"The Harrogate player should have left the field permanently and we then had to play Andy Hodgson, until he went off with a shoulder injury, and Lloyd Davies at scrum half."

Doherty's injury left the Greens without their cutting edge but the evening had started well for the holders, flanker Dan Solomi scampering over for a try in the fourth minute after good team ball retention.

Fly half Jamie Guy converted that but then missed two penalties, one of them eminently kickable, as underdogs Harrogate took a 9-7 half-time lead via three penalties by fly half Callum Irvine, the last of which resulted in a yellow card for a late tackle by Greens No 8 Josh Burridge.

Harrogate, who play a division lower than Wharfedale in National League Two North, were building up a head of steam before the interval and carried that on with some fluent back play in the second half.

Left winger Sam Bottomley capped a fine move with a try in the 48th minute, Irvine converting for 16-7 but the Dalesmen replied with a Burridge try to give the National League One side renewed hope.

But, a Davies break apart, they were unable to play enough in the Harrogate half after that as Willem Enslin and Kerry Wood went close for the winners.