Claro Road was quiet for long periods as we shared six tries with the top of the league side only losing out in the kicking stakes.

Harrogate went ahead with a penalty from scrum half Joe Rowntree in the third minute. We came straight back and it was no surprise when Adam Coates got himself on the end of a jinking run from  Stu Waites to dive over on seven minutes.

Unfortunately,  Stu couldn’t add the conversion, and Gate regained the lead with a second penalty from long range after referee Claire Hodnett  gave an offside.

We continued to attack only to give the ball away deep in the Harrogate half. Two missed tackles later and lively winger James Audsley-Beck raced down into the corner to make it 11-5.

Waites was just short with a 45 meter penalty attempt  before we got ourtheir second try – again from Coates.

 It came from a line–out on the home 22 which saw Michael Hogan take crash ball close to the line with Coates the man to touch down from the resulting maul.  Waites again couldn’t add the points but at 11-10 at the break we were in with more than a shout.

We then had an early chance of taking the lead in the second half only for Waites’s penalty from 25 metres to go narrowly wide.

 Instead  it was the home side who increased their lead. Again we failed to make touch with a clearance kick and Harrogate ran the ball straight back and  opened up space on the left for Audsley-Beck to get his second try.

Sadly, for the winger he received a serious leg injury as he went in to a tackle in midfield  and was stretchered off to hospital. We wish him a very speedy recovery.

At 16-10 the next score was an important one and it went to the home side with replacement  Phil Wickham sending a 40 metre penalty soaring between the posts.

Again we came backwith a superb 20 meter break from Waites on 70 minutes ngett5ing us into thye 22. Home prop Steve Maycock used an elbow as Harrogate defended desperately and went to the bin.

Waites kicked for the line-out setting up a maul which saw the forwards drive over the line - sadly they were judged to have been held up.

The visitors continued to be the side which looked the most likely to score and appeared to have a golden chance on 75 minutes when we forced a five meter scrum.

Much to the frustration  of the West bench and supporters we were penalised on our own put in and Harrogate cleared to set up their own pressure down the West right.

The visiting forwards did turn the ball over but the clearance kick was way short of touch. Once again Harrogate took their opportunity with fly half Mike Aspinall finishing off the move and putting the game out of West’s reach at 24-10.

But we were determined not to come back empty handed and  Rollins was driven over by Andrew Dixon over from close range after intense pressure.  Waites ensuring the bonus point with the last kick of the game.

Harrogate: Rob Almond, Noel Minikin, Kyle Dench, Sam Bottomley, James Audsley-Beck, Mike Aspinall, Joe Rowntree, Dan Metcalfe, Steve Maycock, Ben Innes, Tom Harvey, Max Lewis, Chris Wilson, Tim Heaton, Jacob Brady. Reps: Phil Wickham, Nathan Smith, Dom Musetti.

Tries: Audsley-Beck [2], Aspinall [1].

Pens: Rowntree [2], Wickham [1].

Yellow: Maycock.

West: David Heckles, Greg Edwards, Andrew Cheslin, Luke Watson, Colin Cheslin, Stu Waites, Andrew Foreman, Ian Pinchen, Andrew Rollins, Adam Coates, Andrew Davies, Michael Hogan, Dan Boatman, Jon Boatman, Stewart  Grazier. Reps: Andrew Dixon, Nathan Myers, Martin Boatman.

Tries: Coates [2], Rollins [1].

Cons: Waites [1]

Yellow: Coates.

Referee: Claire Hodnett  [North Society]