Harrogate Pythons travelled to Leyburn for the away fixture for 25/26 with local rivals Wensleydale. Fixtures are always hard fought between these two sides but The Pythons found themselves on the losing side having been in control most of the game losing 20-15 – gaining a losing bonus point.
Joel Misseldene and Marcus Fotherby were quickly into the action turning ball over directly from the kick off. The ref spotted an infringement allowing Dale to clear their lines. Harry Smith gathers the clearance and slides a kick deep into the home 22. Hugh Tatlow steals the line out and The Pythons drive for the line. Once again the ref halts progress and Dale clear their lines. A scrappy line out ends with The Pythons in possession giving Peter Millward chance to make ground bringing Jack Whiting into the game to push further ahead assisted by Will Milnes. Dale turn the ball over at the breakdown and clear once again. Millward and Tatlow are huge in defence but the ref penalises The Pythons again at the breakdown, Dale clear and begin building phases. A penalty on the 22 gives Dale a shot at goal, 3 -0 on 10 mins.
The Pythons are quickly back on the offensive using Freddie Abrahams to get play moving with Smith kicking well out of hand and George Booth, Milnes and Tatlow making the hard yards. Pythons gain a penalty on the home 22, Ben Pryor ties the score, 3-3 on 15 mins. The Pythons gather the ball from the kick off and win a scrum. Tatlow picks up from the base and makes 40m and brings Harry Jackson into the game to continue the advance. The ball is lost at the breakdown again and Dale clear their lines. Fotherby takes the lineout and Max Sharp and Jackson prove difficult for the home defence who concede a penalty. Pryor pulls the ball just wide. Play remains evenly balanced until half time.
Dale take the lead early in the 2nd half, 6- 3 ,shortly followed by a red card for a ‘careless’ clearout at the breakdown. The Pythons are quickly back on the Dale line. The defence holds close to the breakdown so Abrahams moves the ball wide to Sharp, tackled high on the line and the ref awards a penalty try, 6-10 and a Dale yellow card. A charge down over the Pythons line results in a home try, 13-10 and quickly afterwards a midfield break creates another home try under the posts, 20-10. With minutes left in the game, The Pythons turn the ball over on half way and win a penalty. Smith drives the ball into the home 22. Tatlow and Millward carry the ball to within 10m and win a scrum. Phases begin, Milnes feeds Fotherby who spots Smith open on the blind side, he dives over the line to secure a bonus point, 20-15 full time.
After the game Coach Will Clough said, “A hugely frustrating afternoon. We failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage that we had for a large part of the game. We played some good rugby and controlled the territory and possession in the first half, so to come in at 3-3 was disappointing. Our work at the ruck and ball retention just wasn’t where it needed to be. Once they got ahead in the second half, it turned into a real arm wrestle, which plays to their strengths, and it was always going to be tough to come back from. That said, we showed great character to score in the final play of the game and leave with a vital bonus point.”
The Pythons entertain West Leeds at The JSG in their next fixture and hope to continue their run of 4 home wins. Kick off is at 2.15pm.
