South power to victory

South Leicester inspired by their pack gained an important bonus point win with a first half performance that laid the foundation with an impressive display of forward power which put them into a HT lead which proved to be enough for a win

Harrogate looked dangerous at times but a series of errors prevented some promising moves with the knock ons, misplaced passes giving the home side a chance to regain the initiative which until the last few minutes they held.

Harrogate opened the scoring with an early try from Will Enslin after pressure on South Leicester's line, Lewis Minikin converted. Within minutes the home hit back, Gaz Kerr broke from his half, following the breakdown a Rickie Aley cross field kick bounced over the try line and Charlie Thacker dotted down, Aley adding the points. Thacker was again involved setting up Jake Heath for a try converted by Aley. More pack dominance saw a Dale Ager heel against the head which forced the visitors to concede a penalty try. Aley adding the conversion. Aley quickly added a drop goal and further consolidated their lead when Thacker muscled his way over for an unconverted try to give South Leicester 29-7 HT lead

The second half began with the home forwards controlling the pace of the game putting Harrogate under more pressure, eventually this told when an attempted clearance from behind the Harrogate line hit the underside of the bar bounced to the ground and Gaz Turner was on hand to touch down , Aley converting.

The visitors continued to contest the game with two late tries from Lewis Minkin and Callum Irvine, Minnikin and Irvine converting but South saw the match out for a valuable victory.

South Leicester 36 Harrogate 21

Scorers
South Leicester
Tries
Thacker 7,40
Heath 14
Penalty Try 27
Turner 61

Drop goal
Aley 30
Cons
Aley 7 27 30 61

Harrogate
Tries
L Minikin 5 72
Irvine 80
Cons
Minikin 5 72
Irvine 80

Ref
Claire Hodnett

Attendance 100
Star Man
Charlie Thacker

REPORT BY Mick McNeill