THEY maybe ten-points clear at the top but Harrogate team manager Graham Siswick believes table toppers Caldy can be caught as his side look to prolong their strong run of form tomorrow.
‘Gate have returned to the National Three North title race in style with impressive wins over Halifax, aLoughborough Students and Saturday’s superb 28-27 win at promotion rivals Macclesfield.
The fight and grit has returned and now a passionate c
rowd at Claro Road will expect more of the same when ‘Gate return to action at home to Cumbria outfit Kendal tomorrow. (2.15pm ko).
“I think they can be still caught,” said Siswick.
“We’ve still to play them twice this season. We’ve got Kendal this Saturday, then a free weekend and then we’re playing them so that’s going to be a big game.
“If we win both games against them then we will be level on points. There’s still a long way to go, we need to take every game one at a time and we know they’re going to take some overhauling but it can be done.”
Siswick is looking for a bumper crowd to swell through the Claro Road gates tomorrow to roar on ‘Gate to yet another home victory this season.
However he’s keeping an open mind before the kick-off weary of their unpredictable opponents who have shown they can turn in some stunning displays of their own when required.
Kendal are certainly no mugs beating Fylde and scoring 40 points away at Leicester Lions earlier in the season.
They’ll be a tough nut to crack but with the fillet of second place in their back pocket and a chance to eat down Caldy’s lead at the top ‘Gate will come into the contest confident of victory.
“We’ve won our last three games and we’ll be going all out to make it four,” continued Siswick.
“Hopefully the crowd will get behind us. The last few games have certainly been entertaining and the supporters have been complimentary about the way we’ve been playing which is nice.
“I think Kendal are one of the most underestimated teams in this division. They’ve had two games postponed this season at home and if they would have won those they’d be up there with us and Caldy in the table.”
On Saturday ‘Gate battled back from 21-8 down at half-time to clinch a one-point victory over a Macclesfield side previously unbeaten on their home patch to increase ‘Gate’s fine run of form.
“We had to work hard for it,” added Siswick.
“We were 21-8 down at half-time but we recovered well in the second half. We upped the tempo and never looked like losing it after coming back into the game.
“It was a bit nervy at the end but we managed to hold on.”
Meanwhile HARROGATE U-17s were beaten in their latest clash against a strong Old Brodleians side on Sunday 27-3. Joe Rowntree scoring ‘Gate’s point with a penalty.
HARROGATE U-15s however won an entertaining match at Wheatley Hills by 12-24. Olly Rosillo (2), Chris Walsh and Lewis Minikin scoring the tries, Callum Irvine bagging two conversions.
National Three North (top three)
PPts
Caldy 9 38
Harrogate 9 28
Nuneaton 8 27
The full article contains 568 words and appears in Harrogate Advertiser newspaper.
