In a game where momentum swung like a wrecking ball, York played more of the rugby showing quality and courage in equal measure to secure a well deserved victory 28 – 22. Demoted from National 2 last season, Harrogate arrived as undefeated league leaders keen to make a swift return to National Leagues. For York, this was seen as an opportunity to gauge their progress towards, and readiness for, level 4 rugby. A prospect made all the more tangible by their second place in the league and the rumours of yet another reshuffle of the leagues by the RFU next season.

York kicked off down the hill and had the better of the early exchanges, creating good territory and possession. The accuracy, pace and controlled aggression in the contact area displayed by York put the Harrogate pack on the back foot and having to defend strenuously with York having the best of the territory and possession in the first quarter. Early in the game, the York forwards carried well, sucking in defenders in repeated phases before Atkin released the backs off quick ball to bring the game, and the touchline, to life. Composed handling took the ball to Ashman who had the pace to exploit the overlap and cross the line wide on the left despite the attentions of Evans, the Harrogate wing. York 5, Harrogate 0.The try woke the Harrogate side up who raised their tempo, taking possession and territory in the York half. York defended well but were penalised for going ‘off feet’ at the breakdown giving Harrogate the opportunity to close the gap. MacNab slotted the ball neatly between the uprights. York 5, Harrogate 3.

York struck back through the forwards reasserting their dominance in the loose and the scrum. After 20 minutes, the crowd was breathless and so was the Harrogate tight head, Peace, who must have had altitude sickness, Ed Westaby (and colleagues in the front row) had put him so high along with the rest of Harrogate front row. Scrum destroyed legally, the referee had no option but to penalise Harrogate (It seems an unfair world at times when your feet are dangling in front of your face AND you get penalised. Ah, the memories of our youth). York used their dominance to establish a good field position before another sweeping attack from the backs enabled Atkinson to force his way over on the right after good handling in the wet conditions across the back line. Shackleton, whose place kicking was to prove to be laser guided on the day, slotted the conversion from the touch line. York 12, Harrogate 3. Tails up and scrum half Atkin grinning from ear to ear, York were soon dominating the forward battle again when Lewis Jackson joined the party sending Peace skyward again only to be penalised for lifting. York had had most of the rugby, but Harrogate aren't undefeated because they fold under pressure. Keeping their calm, they worked their way back into the game with hard yards up front, working field position and winning the penalty, a pattern we were to see a lot more of before the game was over. MacNab made no mistake with the penalty taking the half time score to York 12, Harrogate 6.

Harrogate resumed the second half the way they ended the first. The forwards providing good ball for Steene and Kaisia to gain field position with accurate kicking out of hand. Successive penalties by MacNab brought the scores level at 12 - 12. It was clear that a penalty anywhere within 40 m of the posts was sure to see the Harrogate score board ticking upwards and this was clearly the Harrogate game plan with little or no ball being run through the backs despite the obvious pace of the Harrogate wings. York needed to play in the right part of the field. Shackleton obliged with a neat chip through that forced Harrogate to drop out from their goal line. York fielded the kick and returned the ball in hand at pace earning York a penalty 30m out. Atkin played it quickly and went on a jinking run through the Harrogate pack before running into high tackle. The offending side suitably warned about high tackles and yellow cards, the game resumed with Shackleton kicking the penalty to take York into the lead again. York 15, Harrogate 12.

York earned another penalty from the kick return for another high tackle offence resulting in a yellow card for Harrogate. York pressed their advantage of the extra man and extended their lead to 18-12. Harrogate dug in, helped by going to uncontested scrums for a brief spell and managed to pull a penalty back. York 18 Harrogate 15. York kicked short at the restart with Scholey collecting the ball after Harrogate fumbled it under pressure from the marauding York pack. Quick second phase ball was moved neatly right to left with some balletic footwork from Du Boulay in the middle of the field before Hessay came into the line at pace putting Ashman away for his second try of the game which was well taken. Having been tackled short of the line but not held, he had the presence of mind to get to his feet and go again, crossing in the left-hand corner. Converted again by Shackleton, a comfortable buffer of ten points, York 25 Harrogate 15, was surely enough to close the game out? Or was it?

Harrogate kicked off, York fielded well and then went through four phases in their own half before the spiral bomb was launched into midfield. Harrogate were making the most of the field position York had given them securing a line out 5 m from the York line. Clean catch and drive and excellent conversion by who else? MacNab and the game was back at 25 – 22 and the nerves were jangling. Whilst it is recognised the spiral bomb is difficult to catch and York do protect their phase ball well these days, there were some on the touchline that felt there was a place in the modern playbook still for the traditional Andy Brown exit: Catch it, pass it and kick it three miles down the road, or at least the oppositions half. The tension on the touchline rose as this pattern of play persisted. Surely it was a matter of time playing like this before Harrogate clawed their way to another league win. Barrick of course had other ideas. Timing his follow up run to perfection he knocked the receiver into the middle of next week to ease the pressure. Shackleton eased the nerves a little further with another penalty to take York six points ahead, York 28 Harrogate 22. A converted try was needed for Harrogate to remain undefeated. The last few minutes saw Harrogate using all their forward know how to assault the York line. Tackle after tackle repelled them. Closer and closer the attack got to the try line and the posts. Courageous and selfless defence kept them at bay but eventually Harrogate managed to get across the line only for the referee to deem the ball held up. The final whistle blew, the touchline erupted. Job done – we won! Final score York 28 Harrogate 22.

It was a great statement for rugby in the area. This game could have gone either way but the feeling generally was that the side that played the most rugby on the day won the game and deservedly so. Before we all get too excited, it is Sandal away next week.