Harrogate competed well but were unable to capitalise on their scoring opportunities to lose 26-12 to visiting Sedgley Park.

Sedgley Park took advantage of the chances, which Harrogate gifted to them, to give them the victory, which should secure promotion to division one of the National League.

Following a Sedgley Park penalty from fly-half Ueckermann after three minutes Harrogate's attempted short kick-off went directly into the arms of Sedgley centre Voortman who sprinted 60 metres for a simple try.

Harrogate kept Sedgley in their own half for long periods but a defensive lapse allowed Sedgley scrum half McCormack to break through and outpace the cover for a second soft try.

In the middle of a rainstorm Harrogate kicked a penalty to the corner and, from the ensuing lineout, good work by the pack set up a pushover try for prop Gabriel. Fly-half Cholewa converted.

With half-time approaching referee Steve Lander played an exceptionally long advantage for Park before bringing play back for the penalty which Ueckermann converted to put the Park ranks 16-7 up at half-time.

Ueckermann added his third penalty after eight minutes of the second half.

The crucial score for Sedgley followed their first sustained pressure on the Harrogate line after 30 minutes when full back De Jager raced over, Ueckermann again converting.

Harrogate missed another scoring opportunity as they raised their game but were finally rewarded with an unconverted try by number 8 Cook in the last minute of injury time.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, April 05, 2004