National Two: Harrogate back on track through Boyde

Already doomed to relegation, Stockport played with skill and spirit and, had they won, Harrogate could not have complained.

An early Stockport knock-on gave Harrogate an attacking scrum. Debutant prop George Stuffins combined well with Ben Reaveley and Nico Nyemba to give Harrogate a solid platform and Willem Enslin picked up at the base and drove over to score and Callum Irvine converted.

Driving mauls resulted in tries for Stockport prop Andrew Fuller and Harrogate’s Reaveley.

Stockport went ahead through tries from flanker Sam Graham and Callum Baldwin and after the interval Harrogate had Danny Matthews and Andy Boyde sent to the sin-bin within two minutes of each other.

Harrogate still defended well but the ball was eventually recycled and Hall took advantage of the overlap to score in the corner.

The introduction of Kyle Dench from the bench stiffened Harrogate’s midfield and when Stockport went offside, Harrogate, although still down to 14 men, struck back through Irvine’s penalty.

Restored to a full complement, Harrogate began to exert more control and a midfield break by Dench led to Bottomley’s try after good support from Stuffins and Reaveley.

The Harrogate backs were now playing more incisively and a deep attack took play up to the Stockport line.

Boyde’s converted try from a driving maul put Harrogate ahead with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Stockport continued to attack with spirit but Harrogate’s defence was largely able to keep play in the hosts’ half for the rest of the game and they moved up to sixth after winning this game in hand.