Wetherby started aggressively with Dave Hughes putting in a crunching tackle right from the kick off. The forwards were working well and turned over the Pirates a couple of times with dynamic rucking. Neither side could make much headway with only a notable kick return by full back Mikey Hall making 50 yards lighting up the first 10 minutes.

Harrogate then scored a converted try with their first real attack. Their powerful inside centre broke a couple of tackles and offloaded to his centre partner who scored by the posts.

Wetherby were still playing well with their line out secure and scrum dominant taking a couple of strikes against the head. Credit must go to the starting front row of Massey, Oates and Franks.

After 18 minutes the Pirates struck again when the swashbuckling outside centre ran an excellent line and put the number 8 through to score with the conversion stretching the score to 14-0.

The Pirates were building up a lot of pressure and only great last ditch defence stopped them extending their lead on a couple of occasions. The pressure eventually told and the Pirates fly half took a quick tap penalty and scurried over in the corner for an unconverted try. 19-0.

After 33 minutes Wetherby got onto the scoreboard when winger John Fox went over. I have no idea how he got the ball as I was distracted by a very low flying helicopter! Matty Finch missed with the conversion attempt.

The Pirates struck next after good interplay stretching their lead to 26-5. The drizzle became steady rain and Wetherby continued to press hard with the forwards carrying well. Right before half time the Wetherby pack launched a great drive from a lineout 5 yards out and Dave Massey grounded the ball in the corner with a few other Wetherby forwards in support. A canny Pirate forward claimed to have his hand under the ball and the referee took the bait and ruled out the score.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were a real forward struggle with the rain making handling difficult. Both packs had made changes and Harrogate were now dominant in the scrum.

Hooker Oates came close to scoring after charging down a kick but the ball just ran dead before he could ground it. The Pirates then scored beneath the posts after a series of strong drives to increase their lead to 33-5. The Crusaders then showed their trademark fight and battled their way up the field with forward replacements Boyes and Harrison prominent. Ollie Robertson put Marcus Little into space and Little showed a surprising turn of pace to score. Finch missed the conversion attempt.

Wetherby were now dominant and fullback Mikey Hall scored the try of the game showing serious pace and agility to beat half the Pirates to score out wide. This time Finch was successful and the score was 33-17. The Pirates were now getting worried and the Crusaders continued to push for further scores but couldn't quite get over the line. In the last minute a Wetherby pass went to ground and the Pirates number 10 hacked the ball down to the Wetherby line, again the Wetherby defence scrambled to prevent the score but eventually they ran out of numbers and the Pirates scored a final try to give a final score of 38-17.