Harrogate Pythons 1st XV entertained Bridlington on Saturday for their first visit to The Jim Saynor. The sun was out which attracted the best crowd of the year.
The Pythons started well showing intent with their big runners. George Booth and Harry Butler crashed through the away defence which held firm at the second phase. An early of side gives Brid the chance to clear their lines and a well drilled line out puts them on the home 5m line. Hands in the ruck and Brid take the lead, 0-3 after 5 mins. Confidence from the early score sees a kick through by the away 10. Some great defence between Nick Bell and Harry Brayshaw involves short passes and quickly moves play away towards the away half. Max Sharp clears the ball to the 22 but the ref had spotted an earlier offside and Brid increase their lead, 0-6 on 11mins.
Some huge tackling from Ben Pryor dislodges the ball, Natsuky Barclay is quick to gather and place a superbly well weighted grubber kick behind the defence. Bailey Bromberg’s pace gets him close but the ball bobbles into touch off a defender. Hugh Tatlow secures the line out and The Pythons weighty pack marches play closer. Barclay whips the ball out to Sharp and the ref spots the defence offside, Pryor narrows the score 3-6.
Straight back from the kick off and Pryor has a shot to tie the score, 6-6 on 18mins. Brid come back once again and pile some intense pressure on the home line. A gap appears and Brid score, 6-11 on 24 mins. Brid re start the game and Tatlow claims the ball at pace moving quickly into the away 22. Rhys Cory in support continues the play and is well tackled. Brid concede the penalty for not releasing in the tackle and Pryor adds to the Pythons total, 9-11 on 26 mins.
Brid are awarded a scrum on half way and The Pythons pack destroy the opposition winning a penalty thanks to the improving Mattie Tuff at lose head. Sharp drills the ball into the corner, secure line out ball and the controlled drive begins again. Barclay uses his close runners but the defence holds firm. Butler receives the ball and crashes over from 3m to score his first for the club. Pryor with the extras, 16-11 on 35mins.
Barclay receives the ball from the kick off, kicks ahead and is cynically tackled late. Brid steal the line out and clear their lines, half time.
Fotherby plucks the ball mid air from the kick off and gains 30m. Cory again in support takes play forward and feeds speedster Bell who rounds the defence to score in the corner, 21-16. Barclay, still affected by the late tackle, leaves the field and Ollie Macnab moves to 9, Sharp everts to 15 and Jed Carr comes on at 10 after some weeks away from the game. Macnab releases the ball to Carr and Brid are penalised once again, some verbals take play 10m closer to the away line. Sharp into the corner, successful line out ball and Carr gets his backs moving. Three phases and Macnab feeds Tatlow who gains 10m to release Bell who races in for his second. Pryor coverts, 26-16.
Bell uses his left boot from the re start and a poor clearance gives The Pythons a line out on The Brid 22. Quick ball brings Jack Whiting into the game making valuable meters. Sharp continues play and steps through the defence to score, Pryor converts 33-16.
Some great interplay between Jordan Payne and Butler sees Payne put Bell away to race around the defence under the posts for his hat trick, Pryor again 40-16 on 70 mins. Some great play involving the whole back line takes play back into the Brid 22. Butler is denied a try but sets up a great play for Macnab to feed Fotherby on a great line to cross the line, Pryor with the extras, 47-16 on 75 mins.
Playing with confidence the home centres Pryor and Brayshaw make space for Sam Rowntree to gallop in from half way to score under the posts, 54-16. The Pythons launch 2 more attacks with Whiting held up agonisingly short on 2 occasions, the ref ends the game.
Afterwards Coach John Liley said, “Having absorbed the early pressure that we had planned to expect to be up against we produced an accomplished and controlled performance to record a convincing victory. Being behind in the early stages and responding in the positive and professional manner demonstrates the huge progress made this year within the squad.
Our excellent game management allowed us to absorb the early pressures to then go on and win comfortably. It is important that we take this performance into next week’s game to look to continue our good run of form.”
The Whittaker’s Gin Man of The Match was awarded by Ian Buckley MBE to Marcus Fotherby.
This coming Saturday The Pythons face Hullensians at The Jim Saynor Ground hoping to overturn defeat in Hull earlier in the season. 5 points leaves The Pythons in 8th position but takes them 8 points clear of West Leeds and 1 point behind Wath Upon Dearne.
