Rosillo stunner is key for Harrogate

Harrogate ........ 26 Luctonians .... 24

HARROGATE withstood a late Luctonians surge to earn a narrow victory and move four points clear of the 12th-placed side.

Francis Kelly’s strong break took play into Harrogate’s half early on and the hosts gifted Louis Silver a penalty.

But Keane Naylor then burst through following David Doherty’s break and he raced clear to score, with Sam Fox converting to put Harrogate 7-3 ahead.

Luctonians kicked for the corner following a penalty and despite a Connor Ward turnover from the lineout, Kelly went over after counterattacking from the clearance.

Harrogate were excelling in the scrum and with Sam and Jacob Brady dominanting the loose, a huge driving maul ended with a Ward try to put Harrogate 12-10 ahead at the break.

From a rare good scrum Luctonians flanker Henry Monkley was driven over for a converted try to make it 17-12 to Lucs.

Guy Cosler struck back from a driving maul for Harrogate and another outstanding try followed which seemed to have put Harrogate in an unassailable position – Oli Rosillo breaking from deep to go 50 metres for a converted try, but Tom Dodd scored late on to secure a losing bonus point for Lucs.