Hawks beat the conditions to come away with a win.

Selection:

C Haigh, H Hirst, G Heron, C K-Payne, P Hampshire, J Beck, S Sharp, B Ward.

M Rowntree, S Fletcher, P Cadogan, B Hall, M Thornton, E Knight, J Bruce.

R Dance, E Sunter, N Payne, H Granger, O Starkey.

Scorers:

Elliot Kight, try.  Ben Hall, try.  Sam Sharp, try.

Sam Fletchter, Conv x 1.  Eddie Sunter, Conv x 1.

Report:

The Hawks travelled to Harrogate alongside the 1st team, kicking off early to watch the end of that pulsating match.

If the 1s was pulsating, the Hawks unfortunately was a bit of a damp squib where waders were more appropriate than wonder feet.  However massive hats off to Harrogate and their grounds team for getting both games on.  It was never going to be end to end and perhaps the team that adapted better would be the victors, more of that to come.

In the first half both teams tried to move the ball, in essence it was almost easier without the ball of mud than it was with it!  The game included uncontested scrums from the start with Harrogate unable to field a front row. So the triple H front row (Haigh, Heron and Hirst) used their saved energy to carry well around the park.

The lineout was well contested by both teams and never a source of guaranteed set piece ball, Brook Ward and Pete Hampshire prominent.

Unsurprisingly, a day for the back rows getting battered and centres making their way through the sluggish midfield - Matty Thornton’s glorious 1st half break would surely have brought a try had he not been treading water, literally, as he made his way upfield.

Jonny Cole and Josh Beck showed their first team pedigree with barnstorming carries whilst man of the match Sam Sharp tackled his heart out for 80 minutes.

Heath were first to score, a misplaced pass was snapped up by Elliot Knight who raced away through the quagmire. The general Sam Fletcher, operating at stand off, coolly converted.

Harrogate came back, overplaying from Heath giving them the opportunity to level the scores in the first half. Dance and Keighley-Payne had replaced Haigh and Heron, both immediately to the fore with their carrying. Granger replaced Cadogan at half time on a difficult day for wingers who found themselves trying to turn in the mud more often than getting any good ball.

Any quality play was difficult and the score remained 7-7.  Enterprising play was not going to be the winner, direct carrying and playing in the right areas of the pitch was required, rightly highlighted by the experienced Cole.  

Heath got to work, Max Rowntree and Eddie Sunter on for an injured Fletcher, putting Heath in the right areas of the pitch.  The forwards carried hard at the heart of the Harrogate defence, Starkey had come on to replace Payne who had already replaced Cole. A couple of times they came close, held up over the line for goal line drop outs. Eventually, Harrogate could stem the tide no longer, Sharp the beneficiary going over from close range. Sunter missing the conversion.

Heath continued to press, Cole returning to the pitch. Bruce dictated from the back, returning the ball with boot or by running hard. Continued defensive pressure caused a Harrogate error, Ben Hall intercepting the forced pass to race home, Sunter converting.

With limited time remaining the game was sewn up, Hawks deservedly leading 19-7. There was still time for the home side to score, right on the final whistle as the referee observed numerous Heath penalties, Harrogate going up the field before crossing wide out.

Final score 19 -12.

A win is a win as the saying goes, and it certainly was. One for the purists but the Hawks gave a timely response to the only team to beat them this season as they continue their quest to top their league.

Photos:

Andy Keighley