Harrogate Pythons visited 3rd placed Yarnbury RFC for their away fixture on Yarnbury’s 4G pitch. Having beaten Yarnbury at home in early December, John Liley’s men were looking to do the same and delivered their first win, 21-24 after 5 successive defeats. The first 30 mins of the game belonged to The Pythons. Controlling both territory and possession the home side, other than defending, couldn’t make impact on the game. The Pythons chose to keep ball in hand and created some well worked chances. Harry Brayshaw used his pace to set up the first attack with Yarnbury conceding the first of a string off desperate defending penalties. Harry Smith kicked the ball to 5m, Hugh Tatlow takes the line out and the drive for the line begins. Harry Butler is held up just short. Yarnbury clear their lines and take possession around half way. Fierce tackling from Rhys Cory and Sam Beagrie and the home side concede a penalty on half way. Smith drills the ball to the home 22m line. Marcus Fotherby takes the line out and the drive begins once again. Natsuki Barclay brings his back line in with Ollie Ward causing the home side problems in mid field. Another penalty and Smith hits the 5m line. Tatlow secures the ball , Butler peels off the side of the maul and is bundled into touch on the line. The referee brings play back for an earlier infringement, Misseldine taps and goes, halted 2m out. Butler picks the ball and drives but is held up over the line. Goal line drop out and The Pythons are back again with Smith and Ward 10m out. Tatlow continues the drive forms a ruck but the ref spots a fumble at the base. Yarnbury scrum and they clear to half way.Yarnbury are forced to show why they’re so high in the league – an intense period of defence as Barclay sets up phase after phase with Beagrie, Smith and Ward moving the ball quickly across the field. Another penalty, the home side receives an inevitable yellow card. Tatlow secures the line out, Barclay uses width to Ben Pryor who shrugs off a high tackle, he drives for the line, Butler takes over but is halted just short. The ref takes play back for the high tackle, Pryor taps the ball and barges over from 5m, he kicks the conversion, 0-7 on 35 mins.
Yarnbury score early in the second half, 7-7. Pythons get back on the offensive with Will Milnes, Ward and Tatlow all making good yards – Yarnbury concede another penalty, Pryor kicks it to take back the lead, 7-10. Yarnbury are quick to respond scoring shortly afterwards, 14-10.Pythons secure their own line out on their 22 and are awarded a penalty. Pryor takes a quick one gaining 40m, he feeds Cory who passes in side to Tatlow on half way. Freddie Abrahams gets the ball and is pulled down 5m short. Milnes retains the ball, Ward breaks for the line, tackled just short and Yarnbury turn the ball over. A wild pass in goal sees the ball enter touch in goal giving the Pythons a 5m scrum. Tatlow picks the ball from the base and drives to the line. Beagrie enters the drive, Butler takes the ball and lunges over to score, Pryor adds the 2, 14-17. Yarnbury take the lead back, 21-17 on 70 mins. Jack McGowan turns the ball over 15m from his own line and carries to the home 10m line, Yarnbury concede another penalty and Smith kicks to 10m. secure line out and Abrahams sets the phases up with Smith, Ward and Pryor all involved. Abrahams feeds Tatlow just under the posts who slips a pass to Jordan Payne running a great line. The ref blows for a forward pass but goes back for a previous penalty at one of the breakdowns. Pryor quickly taps, score and kicks the conversion, 21-24. Yarnbury have one more attack foiled by Fotherby with some superb counter rucking causing the home side to concede another penalty. Smith confirms last play with the ref, taps and kicks the ball dead, full time.
After the game, John Liley said,” The players proved to themselves that winning away from home was possible, with a well deserved victory at Yarnbury. I thought we played the conditions better on the day and deserved the result. We have improved on our performance away from home compared with last year, and have come close to winning on so many occasions. So to record the victory was a delight for everyone concerned. We showed great patience and resilience to see the result over the line. The lead changed hands several times and it could have been easy to lie down defeated, but we showed great character again to get the job done. The result has given us the lift we need to continue to climb the table to claim a decent position by the end of the season. Our remaining 3 league fixtures are all very winnable games.” The Pythons remain in 9th place, Yarnbury drop to 5th. Next up for The Pythons is away at 10th placed Hullensian eight points behind the men from The Jim Saynor Ground.
