Under rather grey, wintry skies over Grange Park it was clear that Harrogate were taking this fixture seriously with their team arriving at 12:15 for a 2:15pm kick-off. Clearly the usual format of a warm up in the car with the heater on wasn’t going to cut it today.

And so the game got under way. Geoff Brown making yet another legendary veterans appearance, Captain Warburton leading from the front, Levi looking like a caged tiger – the Crusaders certainly looked up for it.

Harrogate's kick off didn’t reach the required distance so scrum to Wetherby, put in by Rob Horsfall. A lovely pass from the back of the scrum saw Rory Ffoulks getting his first taste of action, off loading to Geoff Brown who spotted space behind the Harrogate back line and chipped over. Unfortunately it trundled in to touch but a positive start from the home team.

Wetherby then put together a period of concerted pressure which culminated in a typical Levi run, scoring under the posts. The conversion unfortunately missed leaving the score 5-0.

Harrogate then, apparently woken up, applied concerted pressure and when without the ball, tackled like terriers. Their pressure eventually paid off with a breakthrough try after some great running lines leaving gaps in the Wetherby defence. They scored under the posts and converted the try, 5-7.

Wetherby again drove forward strongly, the forwards showing their supremacy and keeping territory in the Harrogate 22 for some time. Unfortunately they were just unable to make the territory count, Wetherby just seemed unable to get over the line due to the strong Harrogate defence. An even 10 minutes of rugby followed however some slick play from the Harrogate backs, clearly playing together regularly and for some time, enabled them to clear their lines, move up pitch and eventually break through the Wetherby defence for the second try, conversion missed – 5-12.

Marcus Little was then brought on as a sub before half time to get in the ear of the ref (at least that’s what he went on to do) and to provide a little extra support to the scrum. Some might call it an impact substitution (but not me). Little made an immediate impact landing straight on to a loose ball and recycling for yet more phases of Wetherby attack.

Despite Crusaders best endeavours the Harrogate defence remained resolute and, again, with some good hands from the backs and a few missed tackles from the home team, Harrogate ran in another try although again the conversion was missed. Half time score 5-17.

The second half started positively with a lot of early pressure. Despite seeming to camp in the Harrogate half for much of the first 10 minutes Harrogate again managed to break through tackles due to very strong running and supporting runners came through to score again. Wetherby just didn’t seem to be able to hold on to their strong back line runners. Scoreline 5-22

As the blue sky started to break through over the immaculately maintained pitches at Grange Park it seemed that Wetherby might be turning the tide on Harrogate. At least 10 minutes was spent in the Harrogate 22 with the play being drawn to the near side it seemed inevitable that a backs move through hands would lead to a score however an over ambitious pass and subsequent knock on gave possession back to the visitors leading to a breakaway try of over half the pitch – score 29-5.

However, the Crusaders have never been the sort of team to give in easily and any regular supporter will know they fight to the end – as was the case on this cold January afternoon.

With the lasagne warming in the oven and the bar now open, you could almost see the hunger in the eyes of the Wetherby players (for a win, not the food) and yet more significant pressure created what had to be the best move of the day.

Starting with some ‘high spirits’ from Captain Warburton in the line out when he was pulled down without penalty against the opposition, Chris looked to deliver some of his own justice. Fortunately the red mist dissipated before he followed through and, other than big Job Dobson almost getting sent off without being on the pitch(!) there was no further fall out.

A penalty against Harrogate ended up giving the ball back to Wetherby almost immediately and after numerous phases of play took the ball from near side to the middle of the pitch leaving a nice open side to let the backs run at. Harrogate were then down to 14 men after a yellow card for repeat offences and perhaps this was Wetherby’s chance.

The referee was playing advantage, Levi picked up from the back of the maul and evaded 3 defenders eventually being brought down 10 yards out. The evergreen Geoff Brown prowled along the line waiting for his opportunity, Youngie loyally by his side waiting for the opportunity to inflict some real punishment on the previously unbreakable Harrogate defence. But it was Chris Warburton who came out with the ball, Marcus little supporting, clean ball out of the next phase, Levi again back in the thick of it trying to find a way through, the ball presented beautifully under a pile of forwards and way out of reach of the Harrogate defenders.

A lovely ball from the scrum half and an equally delicious, powerful, angled run from the man that is Rory Ffoulks took the ball forward yet again and with an offload to Brownie it’s a try for the Crusaders. The conversion missed but being the last kick of the game made the result 10-29.

It was a valiant effort by the Crusaders against a very young, yet experienced Harrogate side with twice as many players as they really needed!

Onwards and Upwards Crusaders – THIS IS PROGRESS!