Local rugby: Otley fall off pace against visitors Fylde while Harrogate pay the penalty in Carlisle

Tries from centre Elliot Morgan after three and 15 minutes were converted by stand-off Ben Smith, but Otley’s 14-0 lead proved to be a false dawn as visitors Fylde ran out 23-14 winners in National Two North.
Sam Fox opened the tryscoring for Harrogate in Carlisle at the weekend. PIC: Harrogate RFCSam Fox opened the tryscoring for Harrogate in Carlisle at the weekend. PIC: Harrogate RFC
Sam Fox opened the tryscoring for Harrogate in Carlisle at the weekend. PIC: Harrogate RFC

The Lancashire side had closed to 14-12 by half time, and shut out the West Yorkshire side for the rest of the match. Tries from Jack Hirst and Josh Burridge weren’t enough for Wharfedale who lost out 48-12 at a misty Loughborough Students ground.

After the outstanding performance against Caldy the previous week Wharfedale looked disappointing, while the Students deserved their win with some fast and open rugby.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Harrogate’s promotion ambitions in North Premier league suffered a setback when they lost 29-17 at Carlisle. Meanwhile, Ilkley lost out at home 32-21 to Rossendale.

For the second weekend running, Harrogate underperformed but, this time, failed to get out of jail.

Harrogate scored three tries to Carlisle’s two, but the hosts were the deserved winners, 29-17, though the Yorkshiremen felt aggrieved by the referee’s interpretation of some of the laws that cost them several penalties.

Sam Fox and Matt Lansdall scored first-half tries for Harrogate with Martin Dodds crashing over late on for what proved a mere consolation try as Carlisle had managed to pull away while Tom Driscoll was in the sin-bin following punishment for a high tackle.