HARROGATE went close to toppling National League division two runaway league leaders Plymouth Albion

Harrogate lost 21-15 but for long periods of a pulsating game they were the better side.

At least they restored their pride after the 57-3 hammering they suffered at Beacon Park in November, a defeat which caused more than a little soul-searching at Claro Road and then led to four wins on the trot.

That run came to an end on Saturday, but Harrogate left the field with heads held high after having tackled like demons and matched Plymouth in virtually every phase of the game.

In fact, when they spun the ball wide, they looked the more accomplished side.

In the end it was only a couple of penalties - one dubiously awarded for not releasing the ball in the tackle and the other, more blatant, for joining a maul from the side - which separated the teams.

Harrogate began by far the better side and Plymouth must have had dark thoughts about their last trip to North Yorkshire - their first defeat in nearly two seasons came at Wharfedale.

After a Lee Cholewa penalty had been negated by a Tom Barlow drop goal, Harrogate took the lead in enterprising fashion.

After they had gone close a couple of times, full-back Ed Smithies burst into the line at pace to score his ninth try of the season and with Cholewa converting the home side was deservedly ahead.

It was still 10-3 at half time and within minutes of the restart Harrogate could and should have stretched their lead. But a two-man overlap on the right went begging and 13 minutes later Plymouth were level, No8 Dan Ward-Smith barging in seconds after being held up over the line.

Chris Atkinson converted and then tacked on two penalties before Plymouth rubbed salt into wounds by snatching a try in injury time.

Wing Andy Matchet got the touchdown after a ricochet in a scrum wrong-footed the home defence.

Harrogate, who had been forced into a late change when skipper Rhys Morgan pulled out after a head knock in training, refused to lie down and deep into injury time right-wing Paul Clayton crossed. But it was too little, too late.

Updated: 12:32 Monday, January 14, 2002