Doherty leaves it late to secure Gate win

LEADING 18-5 at half-time Harrogate seemed to have this relegation dogfight sewn up, but Preston raised their game and it took a late conversion to secure the home side the narrowest of wins.

From the start, Harrogate backs went into overdrive and Olly Rosillo came into the line for a spectacular opening score. It was captain Jake Brady’s 200th first-team game and he led by example to inspire his team. Continued Harrogate pressure forced Hoppers on the back foot and David Doherty’s penalty made it 8-0.

Brady then powered over from a driving maul with the conversion making it 15-0, before Doherty added another penalty.

The Preston pack mounted a mini-recovery and Will Lees tucked in behind to score and make it 18-5.

Hoppers went straight into the offensive from the start of the second half. Lewis Allen’s two penalties made it 18-11, while Harrogate’s Guy Coser was also sent to the sin bin. Preston scrum-half Jack Harrison then dummied and broke to score a converted try which evened the scores.

Another Allen penalty put Preston 21-18 ahead and two astute cross kicks created space for Jacob Browne to score on the right and make it 26-18 with ten minutes left.

But Harrogate pulled a penalty back and in the last move of the game, Doherty drove over to score and kick the winning conversion.