Harrogate Pythons travelled across to Hullensians RUFC with Tom Baxter wrestling with the problems of an injury hit squad. With some players out of position and some stepping up from the 2’s the team were determined to get the points.
The Pythons kicked off and play remained between the 10m lines with both sides keeping close to the breakdown. Will Milnes started where he left off from last week aiming to lead the tackle count. With some punishing hits in mid field Hull were held back and with Tom Baxter and Hugh Tatlow driving back the big ball carriers the home side had no option but to kick. Milnes enforced his influence on the game still further in the line out giving his side clean ball. Rhys Cory, playing at centre, led the mid field defence giving Hull little room to attack. A string of penalties against The Pythons at the break down resulted in the game being halted and the referee lecturing captain Tatlow on off side discipline. 5m out Hull tap and go and score, 7-0 after 15mins.
Tatlow nails the receiver from the kick off immediately putting the home side under pressure. The ref awards The Pythons a penalty, Ben Pryor narrows the home lead, 7-3.
Hull retain possession from the kick off moving the ball wide with each phase. Milnes hits hard again and forces the attacker to spill the ball 15m out from The Pythons line. Adam Button gathers the ball and feeds Marcel Kaminski who off loads to Max Sharp. A deft kick ahead and the ball bounces on half way, is gathered by Dylan Wepener who off loads to Joe Rowntree back to Wepener and back to Kaminski, who started the move, to race under the posts. A superb try. Pryor adds the 2, 7-10 after 20 mins.
Hull regain the lead following a catch and drive, 12-10. Tatlow leaves the field and Cory returns to his familiar back row slot with Eddie Wilkinson making a welcome return into the row. Joe Rowntree breaks through the middle and Hull give away an off side penalty, Pryor retakes the lead from 20m out, 12-13 – half time.
Play is quickly back into the Hull 22 with Connor Spence showing his pace on the wing. The Pythons win a line out 10m out and begin their drive. Jordan Payne peels off and touches down in the corner, 12-18. What must have been a break in concentration sees Hull take advantage of a mid field gap, to retake the lead, 19-18. Pryor slots another penalty and the lead changes hands again, 19-21. Hull set good phases close to the Pythons’ line and touch down in the corner for the lead, 24-21.
The Pythons win a scrum penalty and Pryor ties the score, 24-24. The Pythons win the re start with George Booth, Baxter and Wilkinson all making good ground with their typical hard running. With 15m to go Wepener spots Josh Horrocks on the wing and his pace takes him over to score, Pryor adds the extras from the touchline, 24-31. Hull respond badly to the pressure Baxter’s side put them under receiving a yellow card and even a spectator being ‘sent off’ by the ref for continued abuse. Joe Rowntree takes a shot from half way to deny Hull a losing bonus point, 24-34 full time.
After the game DoR Tom Baxter said, “Delighted with how managed and controlled large parts of the game. We made it difficult for ourselves at times which allowed Hullensians into the game, but the lads kept their composure and made sure they stuck to the process. We have a week before the next block of fixtures start, and it’s important we recover well, stay fresh and revisit one or two areas to make sure we hit the ground running again!”
The Pythons improve their league position to 5th, equal on points with 4th placed Yarnbury . With a break week coming The Pythons face Keighley at home on 21st November, kick off 2pm.
