Harrogate Pythons 24, Old Grovians 16

A week on from an agonising one-point defeat at home to Hemsworth, this was another eagerly-anticipated match between two sides in the top four of SSE Yorkshire Division Four.

The first half was largely played in the Grovians' half with some stoic defending from the visitors and enterprising back play from the home side.

It came as somewhat of a surprise then that the game’s first points came as a result of Pythons stealing a scrum against the head on the Grovians five-metre line.

The scrum half was the first to react as the ball popped out and dived over the line to score.

An Adam Weaving penalty reduced Harrogate’s lead to 5-3 at the break but early in the second half, they stretched their lead to seven.

Once again Harrogate won the ball against the head and this time a slick blind-side move put the winger away in the corner.

Old Grovians again responded with a penalty but from the restart their defence was all at sea. Harrogate won quick ball and a chip over the top was allowed to bounce, the fly half gathering it before slipping a pass inside for the flanker to score under the posts.

Grovians were playing in an increasingley expansive style as they fought to get back into the game - and it was working.

Both sides showed flair and enterprise but all too frequently the referee’s whistle intervened, to the frustration of players and supporters of both sides.

It broke the flow of what was becoming an exciting encounter when playing the advantage rule would have been more appropriate.

Old Grovians got the next score, creating a three- man overlap before centre Anthony Griffin touched down.

But sloppy defending from the restart once again proved costly. Mark Lister knocked on and, from the resulting scrum, Harrogate’s inside centre cut a perfect line, taking the ball at pace before breaking two tackles and stepping insdie the full back to score under the posts.

Grovians winger Dean Hogg thought he’d pulled a try back when he broke clear after taking a high ball, only to be pulled back for a Grovians penalty after Harrogate were ajudged offside and, although lock forward Dave Roberts did crash over the line late on, it was too little, too late.

This was a huge win for Harrogate, while Old Grovians suffered their second straight defeat.