Harrogate Pythons travelled to league leaders North Ribblesdale with a side ravaged by unavailability to lose 90-12. But, they came away with positives.
Pythons started well putting pressure on The Ribb line from the whistle. Their pack looked good in the set piece and in the lose forcing Ribb to defend hard. Ribb quickly exploited the space in mid field and used their well drilled backs to create overlaps for their speedy wingers to score. By half time the score was 47-0.
The second half started with pressure once again from The Pythons. Sam Rowntree and Hugh Tatlow making good ground in mid field. Garrick Eckard and Marc Ford used their experience well, guiding the away pack to defend driving mauls as well as pressurise the home line with some powerful play. James Goddard, on debut, gave Ben Pryor a well timed pass to create space. Pryor threaded a well placed grubber kick that Tatlow, playing in the centre, raced through to open The Pythons account.
Max Sharp tackled his way to a man of the match performance taking the game into the closing seconds when Rhys Cory rounded off a period of Pythons pressure with the last score of the game. Pryor added the extras.
After the game coach Roy Mackay said, ”Although the score line reads a heavy defat for the Pythons against the league leaders and probable champions it does not tell the whole story. With unavailability and injury the squad made the long trip to Ribblesdale with 16 rather than the normal 18. Of that squad 8 of those players had a combined total of 10 league games for the 1s this season!
The challenge was David and Goliath in effect but I cannot be more proud of a group of players who represented the club, to a man they ran and tackled their hearts out, fittingly scoring the final try to show the desire to play to the end. Indeed for periods of the match the team enjoyed excellent passages of play and put Ribb under pressure. Fair play to a fitter and more skilful side they were clinical with the ball. All 16 were man of the match.”
With availability looking much better this week The Pythons travel to West Leeds for their re arranged fixture
