Harrogate Pythons travelled to Goole for the first time since 2017 for their second fixture this season. Taking a narrow in 28-21 in late November Goole managed to take their home win 38-26. The early exchanges were evenly matched with Harry Butler and Harry Smith pushing the phases into the Goole half. A penalty at the breakdown for the home side, resulted in the first of 8 yellow cards issued by the referee – 5 to The Pythons and 3 to Goole. Goole score from the resulting lineout, 7-0 after 15mins. Returning Sam Beagrie showed determination with his runs out wide. Will Milnes, George Booth and Butler muscled their way through mid field pressurising the home side into conceding a breakdown penalty. Smith hits the corner, Marcus Fotherby takes the lineout but a technical error gives Goole the chance to clear their line. Rhys Cory links well with Harry Brayshaw who kicks through. The home full back does well to gather the bouncing ball and clears to half way. Goole score a penalty and converted try taking the points tally to 17-0 after 30 mins. Fotherby secures line out possession on half way and Natsuki Barclay gets his back line moving. Rhys Cory breaks the line and feeds centre partner Ben Pryor who delicately chips into the corner. Goole are penalised receiving a yellow card, Barclay taps and goes, Goole receive another yellow card. Tap and go again, Smith takes the ball into contact and drives over from 5m, Pryor adds the 2, 17-7 after 35mins. Smith kicks out of hand again to the 5m line. Will Milnes takes the ball and The Pythons pack set up a driving maul. Joel Misseldine spots a gap and races over to score, 17-12 half time.
Goole score three times again early in the 2nd half, 38-12. The Pythons win a scrum from the re start but Goole gain possession once again. Moving the ball with confidence in The Pythons’ 22 Harry Brayshaw intercepts a pass and uses his speed to round the defence and score from 80m out under the posts, 38-19. Once again The Pythons win the re start, Cory off loads to Beagrie who breaks through 3 tackles and off loads to Freddie Abrahams on half way. Racing down the touchline with no defenders in front of him a desperate lunge from the Goole winger is high, the referee awards a penalty try and the Pythons have a try bonus point, 38-26.
After the game, DoR Tom Baxter said,” We were too slow to get into the game and exert pressure. This, coupled with ill-discipline and unforced errors allowed Goole to dominate the scoreboard. We showed good fight and determination to claw our way back into a position to take a bonus point for scoring 4 tries and a chance at competing for the result but left this too late. We have to dust ourselves off and go again. 6 more league games and a semi-final against Ripon – it’s important we stay tight as a group and find a way to turn these results around into our favour”.
The Pythons play Old Rishworthian in their rearranged fixture at The JSG on the 14th and with pressure mounting on league position will look to their points total.
