Both sides were reduced to squads of seventeen. For West Arron Myers and Michael Young were again unavailable, and Michael Murray and Peter Dewhirst were still injured.

The opening fifteen minutes saw West play as badly as any of us can remember. Wild passes dropped, players caught in possession, kicks going straight to the opposition or being charged down. Everything that the side could do wrong they did, and it was no surprise when Harrogate went into an early lead, scoring under the posts after West lost possession. Five minutes later a kick was charged down and Harrogate went over for a second try, which this time wasn’t converted. After ten minutes West were 0-12 down, and deservedly so. Fortunately they then started to get their game together, and mount serious attacks of their own. Some fluent passing rugby created the opportunity for full back James Evens to join the line, dummy, and go over for a try which Tom Dixon only just missed converting. After such an awful start, a 12-5 half-time score wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

The second half saw some exhilarating rugby from both sides, with each side’s defence being seriously tested. West’s was the first to be breached, after some neat interpassing from the Harrogate backs. Failure to ground the ball under the posts proved crucial, as the kick hit the post and bounced back, limiting ‘Gate to a 17-5 lead. West did not give up, however, and resumed the offensive. Luke Austin had already caused problems down the West left, and he was again hauled down five metres short. Quickly recycled ball allowed passes along the line until Stephen Short finally went over, Tom Dixon converting to make it 12-17. Both sides then continued to attack with pace and ingenuity, but it was West who got the score, Short again diving through under the posts. Dixon converted to put West in the lead for the first time, a lead that they managed to retain to the final whistle.

A superb comeback by the team, for which they deserve full credit. This was always going to be a tough match, and to recover from such a large early deficit was admirable. The next league game is at home to Middlesbrough on January 16th, which should give the lads time in training to work on those errors which littered the opening quarter.