Harrogate Pythons visited a windy and sunny Hullensians standing 9th in the table with Hull at 10th. On the back of a home win earlier in the season The Pythons were looking to take all the points. Trailing 12-0 before 5 mins had passed The Pythons couldn’t change possession into points and following a close hard game came away with a try and a losing bonus point with the final score 27-24.
A punishing bounce on the hard Hull pitch gave the home winger a clear run in following a clearance direct from kick off. The Pythons were quickly back pressuring The Hull line with drives from Will Milnes and Harry Smith through mid field. The home defence was firm despite Natsuki Barclay using the phases with carries from Ben Pryor and Harry Butler. Looking to be with a Pythons overlap, the Hull winger reached out for an interception, caught the ball and raced the full length to score, 12-0 on 5 mins totally against the balance of play. The Pythons win a scrum on half way. Hugh Tatlow picks up at number 8 and carries into the home 22, feeds Harry Brayshaw who is pulled down a few yards short. Barclay recycles the ball wide to Pryor to Smith with open ground ahead of him. The ref spots ‘crossing’ and brings play back for a Hull penalty.. Sam Beagrie carries the ball hard into the home 22, Pryor supporting and brings in returning Peter Millward with the resulting maul heading towards the line. With just 2 yards remaining the ball pops out, scrum down Hull clearing their lines to their 22m line. Tatlow secures the line out and feeds Sam Rowntree who links with Smith. Barclay controls the phases with Butler, Harry Jackson and Brayshaw keeping the momentum going. Tatlow gets the ball 5m out and is held just short but manages to off load for Millward to spot the gap and drive over, Pryor with the extras, 12-7. Butler wins a turn over from the kick off and carries 15m into the Hull half. Barclay feeds Millward from the ruck, who feeds Pryor who slots a well weighted grubber kick towards the corner for Brayshaw to use his pace to score, Pryor is successful from the touch line, Pythons take the lead 12-14 after 25 mins. Hull take the lead back with a penalty before Pryor finishes off a series of phases to power over the line, 15-19. Hull score from a quickly taken penalty on half time 20-19.
Hull were quickly back pressurising The Pythons line. Some quick work close to the breakdown sees the influential Hull hooker pick the ball and race through the middle of the ruck to score under the posts. 27-19. A Pythons line out on the home 22, Tatlow secures the ball and the drive to the line begins. Jack McGowan breaks and drives for the line feeding Rhys Cory on his shoulder. Cory is held short. Pythons win a penalty at the 5m scrum but the ball is knocked on allowing Hull to clear their lines. A free kick at a Pythons scrum gives Freddie Abrahams the opportunity for a quick one. He feeds Jordan Payne who shows Hull his very predictable step, the ball is recycled by Abrahams through hands to Beagrie on the wing. No stopping him, try, securing a try bonus point and losing bonus point, 27-24 full time.
After the game coach John Liley said, “We experienced another frustrating afternoon on our travels. Following a victory on the road last time out, our confidence and mood was high entering the Hullensians game. In my opinion we were clearly the better of the two teams and it was increasingly frustrating to fall on the wrong side of some borderline officiating decisions. Whilst we did make errors that Hullensians capitalised upon I felt we produced the better rugby on the day to come away with the spoils. Fortunately we remained patient to still record two bonus points that enables us to continue on our quest to finish this season in a respectable 8th place in the league. Our final two games are certainly winnable and this should be our focus on the next couple of weeks”
League positions for the 2 sides remain the same. The Pythons are 5 points ahead of Hullensians who have a game in hand. Leodiensian are relegated, Beverley remain 2nd bottom with their remaining games both away against West Leeds and Yarnbury. Hullensians have Yarnbury at home, Keighley away and West Leeds away. With 2 teams being promoted it looks as if only 2 teams will be relegated. With proposals from The YRFU to increase league numbers to 14 teams and to introduce lower XV’s into the leagues entering the final stages it looks as if even more complexities are brought into the promotion/relegation scenario.
Harrogate Pythons last 2 games are against Keighley at home and Leodiensian away.
