ON a very cold day in Harrogate, Sedgley were well beaten by a well-organised pack and some swift-running wingers.

Sedgley contributed to their own demise by conceding too many penalties, too many last line-outs, one yellow and one red card and some unhappy ball handling.

It sounds awful, but there were some very positive things to take from this good experience.

When reduced to 14 men the defence was terrific, restricting Harrogate to one fortunate try in the second half.

Rob Moon appears fully fit and back to form. The pack missed Fourie, but faced with a formidable eight, stuck well to their task and, as ever, McCormack was buzzing.

But it was all to no avail since, although Park looked good for the first 10, it was Harrogate that scored from their first attack.

From a lineout on the left, the ball went out to Morgan at scrum half, who threw an outrageous dummy, leaving a mile-wide gap for him to dart through to score.

No problems, Sedgley still looked the better outfit. De Jager slotted a penalty, but then Huw Thomas was yellow carded, and whilst in the sin-bin Harrogate struck.

First, Sedgley lost a scrum on the right and the ball sped left for Tapster to score, then two minutes later Sedgley, with a scoring chance on their left wing, suffered the indiginty of having the ball stolen by a Farrar interception, and after a 70-yard chase the Harrogate man scored.

Having scored he was then late tackled by Naylor, who received a red card. Chowela put a penalty over to add to his two conversions to make it 22-3 to the home side at half- time.

The second half was very competitive, the home side received a second yellow card, the penalty count was sky high, yet it wasn't a dirty game, but the referee's whistle was surely worn out by the end.

The Harrogate pack, together with contiunuous offside or near offside defence, blotted out Sedgley's attempts at attack, so Bullough tried a fly-kick over the advancing players. Unfortunately, he miscued and Tapster squeezed in for his second try, which Chowela converted.

It was that sort of day, but no doubt the team here all recovered and we shall see more of what is normally expected at Park Lane tomorrow against Wharfedale (kick off 2.30pm).

SEDGLEY PARK: Alcock, Keyes, Thomas, Arnold, Stockdale, Grainey, Yates, Senior, McCormack, De Jager, Morris, Hassan, Naylor, Bullough, Moon. Replacements: Roberts, Taylor. Not used: Glynn, Young.

National League Two

Harrogate 29pts Sedgley Park 3