Harrogate Pythons RUFC 1st XV 50 – 7 Northallerton RUFC
Match Report & Pictures by Julian Tatlow.
Northallerton visited The Jim Saynor Ground with optimism on reversing their 5 point defeat from earlier in the season. With Coach Dan Bird unavailable, assistant Roy Mackay took control of the squad.
The first 10 minutes was tight with both sides showing their intent. The Pythons phase play proved too much for the visitors and a penalty at the breakdown on half way gives Jed Carr the opportunity to drill a perfect kick out of hand, the first on many, onto the 5m line. North knock on in the line out, Pythons secure their scrum and Carr sends a miss pass to Max Sharp who strides between the defenders to touch down under the posts, Carr adds the extras, 7-0 on 10mins.
Ed Challis follows up with a powerful mid field run and Carr reinforces his control of the game as he threads a perfect pass to Harry Parrish to glide over in the corner. Carr again with the 2 points, 14-0 on 20 mins.
The visitors were finding the control The Pythons had on the game too much and as the phases moved forward, Tim Evans gets the ball on his 10m and breaks 3 tackles to sprint over. 19-0 on 22mins. Strong carries from Sandy Dunlop, Challis and Will Butler give The Pythons an attacking line out. Hugh Tatlow secures the ball, Liam Kernoghan gets quick ball to Evans to power over for his second and The Pythons bonus point, 26-0 on 30mins.
North attempt to run the ball from the kick off but fail to break through the solid defence of Dunlop, Evans and Jordan Payne. Pythons turn the ball over on half way, Parrish carries 20m, feeds Sharp who puts James Audsley-Beck into space. The defence can’t cope with Audsley-Beck’s pace, 33-0 half time.
The Pythons strip the ball from the kick off and create several opportunities all held back by the North pack. The Pythons win a scrum, Pickard feeds Kernoghan who finds Bailey Bromberg who steps and sprints through the defenders to score from 20m. 40-0 on 60 mins. Quickly back into the visitor’s half, Pythons get a penalty sharply taken by Kernoghan, backed up by Parrish who weaves through the defence to be pulled down on 5m. Evans first to the breakdown, picks up and dives over for his hat trick, 45-0 on 65 mins.
North mount a determined drive from the kick off and score a well deserved try through mid field, 45-7 on 70 mins. The Pythons pile the pressure back on and take control back through carries by Jack Hall and George Booth, Louis Dabhi Green is tackled just short and as Fotherby drives for the line he stumbles but manages to feed Evans who touches down in the corner for his fourth, 50-7 full time.
“A pleasing aspect of the match was consistency in both halves, we kept going for the full 80 mins. With players returning from injury the squad selection is becoming increasingly competitive as everyone is putting in Man of the Match performances which is an excellent problem for the coach,” commented Roy Mackay after the game, “When you look at the score one might think it was a fairly straightforward win, however Northallerton were a very gritty and determined team, through good decision making and consistent application we were able to build the score to reach 50 points for the first time this season, “ he added.
Whittaker’s Gin man of the match was awarded by David Croft to Max Sharp.
With the top 3 teams all gaining bp wins The Pythons remain in a strong promotion place. On 71 points they remain on top of Counties 2 with Wensleydale, 67 and Baildon, 56, both with a game in hand.
