Harrogate were made to work hard for their 22-15 National League Division 2 victory by a solid Newbury team who tested the Claro Roaders in every department.

Newbury's second row, Chris Hart, was gifted a soft try in the first minute as Harrogate failed to clear their line.

Harrogate's only reward from their territorial advantage came from a penalty kicked by fly-half Lee Cholewa.

Newbury's forwards fiercely contested the scrums and lineouts but the solid Harrogate defence restricted them to just one further score with a penalty from full-back Mal Roberts in the last minute of injury-time.

Harrogate's half-time team-talk led to an improved display as they regained control of the lineout and dominated territorially.

In the first five minutes of the second half the ball was quickly recycled and when it arrived in the hands of Harrogate's strong-running centre, Johan Visser, there was a huge gap for him to run in unopposed. Cholewa converted.

Ten minutes later Harrogate created a similar situation and this time second row Andy Boyle ran on to the ball at pace as he crashed over for a try which Cholewa goaled to give Harrogate a 17-8 lead.

Newbury continued to put Harrogate under pressure and a missed clearance kick by Cholewa was charged down by scrum half Marcus McCluggage who picked up the ball and sprinted 40 metres for the score that brought Newbury back into the game with a conversion from full back Roberts.

When Harrogate were able to provide quick ball they always looked dangerous and early ball from a ruck ten metres out set up centre Barker for Harrogate's last try of the match to seal a deserved victory, which secured them second place in the league.

Updated: 13:02 Monday, November 24, 2003