Harrogate take opportunity to experiment as Manchester continue to struggle

Harrogate, therefore, risked making a few experimental selections for what proved to be a useful run out.

An early penalty by Ali Chalmers put Harrogate into the lead and this was soon followed by a converted try from No 8 Ryan Peacey, making a welcome return after a long injury lay-off.

Jamie Broadley then finished a multi phased three-quarter move with a fine converted try.

Harrogate were penalised for holding and Manchester's stand-off kicked the penalty.

More Harrogate attacks followed but, in spite of being outclassed, Manchester showed commendable spirit.

Harrogate continued to attack and upped the tempo when Manchester scrum-half Connolly, was sin-binned for illegal obstruction.

The final try of the half came from flanker Tim Heaton, another player coming back from a sidelining injury.

Further Harrogate changes after the interval did not alter things and the backs ran through their moves with plenty of good ball being provided by a dominant front five.

More tries followed from the outstanding James Rothwell and wing colleague Rob Almond. Harrogate continued to dominate despite the sin-binning of captain and prop Jimmy Browne.

A penalty try was awarded against Manchester for repeatedly collapsing driving mauls and Sam Bottomley showed strength and guile to burst through for the next try. Rothwell had taken over the kicking when Chalmers was rested at half-time and his conversion made it 48-3.

Manchester then put Harrogate under some pressure but the visitors counter-attacked and Broadley put in a clever chip which Rothwell claimed to score and convert.

The game's final try followed a sniping run by scrum-half Tom Bugge, converted by Rothwell.

Fylde 37 Hull 8

HULL's patient gameplan was undone early on and the changes to tactics in the second half could not prevent a solid home victory.

Mike Waywell's early penalty was followed by an unconverted try by Fylde hooker Jonathan Roddam.

Quick-thinking from Maea David allowed Hull winger Alex Piercy to cross midway through the half but Waywell added another penalty and converted after Steve McGinnis powered into the corner.

West struck a penalty but Stephen Briers finished off for Fylde before the break.

Hull made three changes at the interval but Fylde claimed a bonus point 10 minutes from time when Paul Arnold finished off a catch-and-drive and Waywell converted.

To end the game, right-wing Nick Royle collected a kick over marker Ben Dorrington. Royle had plenty of time to finish but seemed to trip and did not look to have planted the ball, but the referee gave the unconverted try.