harrogate

By The Bee Hive
November 16 2013

The Bees left Harrogate on Saturday evening with 2 losing bonus points, but that would have been scant consolation from a game that could and should have been won by the visitors. The mid morning rain cleared just in time for the kick off and the Bees’ performance in the game’s early stages was as bright and breezy as the north Yorkshire weather. However, despite dominating both possession and territory, the men from Portway failed to convert pressure into points. Adam Canning failed to take the first penalty points on offer on the 15 minute mark. Sadly for the Bees’ fly half, who has been a bit of a phenomenon with the right boot this season, this rather set the tone for what was to be a difficult afternoon for him kicking from the tee. Bees finally opened their account after 19 minutes, with winger Joseph Mogaji touching down in the corner after collecting a floating pass from scrum half Rod Petty. Canning was unable to slot the extras. The Harrogate defence had proved to be generally solid in the first half and what little ball they had they tended to squander through unforced handling errors. However fly half Joe Rowntree narrowed the deficit to 3-5 with a well-taken penalty from just inside the Bees half after 22 minutes. The Bees were unlucky not to increase their lead after 28 minutes, when a Canning penalty hit the (not so) uprights – Joesph Mogaji collected the rebound but the ‘Gate defence was again resolute on their own line.