PICTURE GALLERY: Sandal RUFC's spirited big finish earns a point against title contenders

They were able to collect a try bonus point, but lost their Regional One North East contest 42-31, writes Howard Newton.

Looking at the game in the round the home side still, without several key players, fought hard against a side holding second place in the league and who are in the race to return to National Two North next season.

Playing with the slope, Sandal had to withstand early attacking play from their opponents, but after 10 minutes a telling break downfield gave the home side a field position close to the five-metre line.

From a scrum Sandal made a positive move across field where Jacob Glover was on hand to score his maiden first XV try in the corner. Tom Hodson converted from the touchline to give his side a 7-0 lead.

It only took Harrogate three minutes to respond, though, when their left winger outpaced the home side defence to cross in the corner and with the conversion finding its target the score was level.

From the resumption the visitors continued to attack Sandal’s line for 10 minutes during which the home side conceded five penalties but managed to defend all Harrogate’s attempts to score.

Then in the 29th minute Declan Thompson made a break and with a kick ahead play was taken well into Harrogate’s territory, where Sandal remained as the game moved towards half-time.

In injury time the home side was awarded a penalty to touch and from the ensuing line-out play was taken across field to find Harry Jukes who made ground before gathering his own kick ahead to touch down in the corner. The conversion was missed, but the hosts led 12-7 at the break.

As the second half resumed there was hope around the ground that Sandal may continue with their first half success and register a victory, possibly against the odds.

That desire was not to be as during the first 19 minutes of the half the side self-destructed when they conceded five converted tries.

A penalty try saw Harrogate back in front and Sandal heads went down, control was lost and the visitors posted four further converted tries to open up an unassailable 42-12 lead.

But Sandal regrouped in the last quarter, which started with a penalty to touch into the top corner, followed by several pick and go exchanges resulting in Declan Thompson crashing over near the posts after 63 minutes. Hodson added the extras.

They continued in a positive mood and in the 71st minute Harry Jukes was given possession on the wing. He kicked ahead to the corner and outpaced the defence to score his side’s bonus point try. The conversion was missed but the home side had taken the score to 42-24.

While a Sandal victory was unlikely as full-time approached the players wished to prove that all was not lost and so to this end all stops were pulled out with the result that in stoppage time Will Forrest coasted over the line to score a fifth try, which Hodson converted from wide out to cut the deficit even further.

Although Harrogate were deserved winners Sandal deserved some credit in the final analysis because of their will and determination to overcome adversity shown by their play in the latter part of the game.

This Saturday they travel across West Yorkshire to play Heath.