Two charged-down clearance kicks helped to send Harrogate crashing to a third successive defeat as they lost 36-29 to Rosslyn Park in National League division two.

They have had enough trouble stopping sides crossing their line this season without handing out tries on a plate, and to concede two in the space of a minute in the same manner smacked of carelessness.

Harrogate were ahead 14-7 thanks to two tries by irrepressible flanker John Dudley, both converted by Lee Cholewa, before the errors.

First Cholewa had a kick charged down to give Park flanker Tim Nunan the first of two tries. And then as the visitors pressed again, full-back Ed Smithies saw his clearance blocked for winger Torquil Mathewson to pounce.

These two tries and a conversion by Matt Dowes - on top of an earlier score by full-back James Justice, who scythed through a static defence for Dowes to add the extras - took the wind out of Harrogate's sails.

And, although 'Gate hit back with a Cholewa penalty and a try from wing Mark Farrar, they trailed 22-24 at the break after Park hooker Steve Kearns notched the first of a brace of tries.

The impressive Nunan's second gave his side a cushion but 'Gate came back again and a brake from half-way by skipper Rhys Morgan saw Cholewa supporting to outstrip the cover and cross wide out, before levelling matters at 29-29 with the conversion.

But Kearns had the last word in the 80th minute when he crashed over from a rolling maul for Dowes to convert.

Ten tries provided rich entertainment for the Claro Road faithful but they must have left hoping the home defence can be tightened.

Harrogate are not having too much bother scoring - they have topped the 200 points mark in six league games - but their points against total has reached 170.

Updated: 12:13 Monday, October 22, 2001