Harrogate Pythons faced league leaders Wath at The Jim Saynor Ground. The away side turned on the style in the first 10 mins setting the scene for rest of the half. Leading 7-33 at the break Wath didn’t expect The Pythons fight back to 24-47 with 4 tries earning The Pythons a valuable league bonus point. The home side conceded 2 converted tries in the first 10 minutes. Wath used width and speed of passing to create overlaps. The Pythons started to gain some possession and used Harry Butler and Will Milnes to drive hard through mid field. Wath concede a penalty and Harry Smith drives the ball to the Wath 22m line. Milnes secures the line out and Natsuki Barclay begins the phases using his backline to gain width. Wath concede another penalty on their 5m line and the home side opt for the scrum. Wath take the ball and clear to their 22m line. Rhys Cory and Marcus Fotherby hold the Wath line with some fierce tackling and earn a penalty, Smith into the corner. Hugh Tatlow secures the line out ball and The Pythons begin their drive. Advancing towards the line Wath pull down the maul and the referee awards a penalty try, 7-14 on 20 mins. Wath respond well and score 3 more tries leading 7-33 at half time.
A catch and drive extends the Wath lead 7-40. The Pythons turn the ball over on half way and begin to set the phases. Harry Jackson launches a long pass to Smith who releases Jack McGowan just outside the Wath 22. He uses an outrageous goose step to round the defence only to be tackled 10m short. Barclay sets the ball moving again to Smith who feeds Tatlow on the 22. He hands off the first defender and then powers over next to the posts. Ben Pryor adds the extras, 14-40. Wath score again, 14-47. Smith carries straight from the kick off, feeds Tatlow who brings Sam Beagrie into the attack on the Wath 22. A firm hand off and a final step takes him over the line. Pryor’s attempt at the 2 hits the upright, 19-47. With a couple of minutes left Pryor breaks the centre field and feeds supporting Barclay on half way. He arcs around the first defender and uses pace to race down the touchline to dive into the corner for the try bonus point, 24-47 full time.
After the game Head Coach John Liley said, “Whilst the result didn’t go in our favour, the character, determination and ‘never say die’ approach enabled the Pythons to finish the game on a high and record a 4 try bonus point. We actually won the second half that should give the lads confidence going into the remaining games of the season. We have equipped ourselves well against a team riding high at the top of our table. Wath took a stranglehold on the from the start a built a healthy lead, but we stuck to our game plan from there on in to make sure we can come away with something at the end. Credit must go to the lads for sticking to the plan and seeing the game out. It could have been very easy to throw the towel in and spend much of the game conceding points. Pythons showed what the club is about by sticking together and putting in a shift for each other. I was immensely proud of how we managed the game from the position we found ourselves in.” With 4 games remaining Wath and second placed Dinnington look as if they will be promoted. Hullensians lost at home to Goole leaving The Pythons still in 9th place. As the league stands two teams will be relegated. Leodiensian can’t escape the drop and it looks as if Beverley will join them. The Whittaker’s Gin man of the match was awarded by Fortress to a deserving Eddy Wilkinson. The Pythons next game is against 3rd placed Yarnbury on their artificial pitch, kick off 3pm.
