Irvine capitalises as Harrogate win derby

The two sides had one victory each from their last five games, but the bottom-of-the-table hosts were eight places adrift.

That difference showed in the first half in terms of confidence as Harrogate made possession work for them to keep amassing points.

After the teams had traded kicks, Harrogate went ahead with a penalty and a drop-goal before adding a fourth kick when Huddersfield lock Austen Thompson was sent to the bin on 30 minutes. Harrogate took advantage and the first try was scored by Callum Irvine out wide.

After the break, Huddersfield pulled back two penalties through fly-half Chris Bell and they could have made a game of it when winger Lewis Workman found himself one-on-one, but the chance went begging.

Harrogate finished things off with a penalty.

Otley needed a late penalty to secure a bonus point from their 22-16 defeat at struggling Sale.

The home side were in dominant mood in the first half, setting up a 10-0 lead from a converted try and a kick on the stroke of half-time.

Otley hit back with a try from centre Neil Chivers, only for Sale to cancel out the score with five points of their own from a rolling maul.

A penalty by fly-half Josh Cruise kept Otley in the game but good pressure from the hosts told and a third try took the advantage to 14 points.

A strong finish saw Otley show their character. They pulled back a try when flanker James Wood crossed and Depledge kicked a penalty with the clock in the red to ensure his men did not go home empty-handed.

Sandal’s game at Sedgley Park was postponed.