Hull RUFC will look back on their Yorkshire Cup semi-final defeat knowing it was a game they could and should have won.
Instead, it will be Harrogate who will face Sheffield Tigers in the final after their 25-10 win.
Hull were guilty of shooting themselves in the foot time and time again and weren’t helped by being reduced to 14 men in both halves.
Harrogate, playing with the strong wind on the back in the first half, opened the scoring in the sixth minute through a Luke Ridell penalty.
But two minutes later Hull led through skipper Tom Rice’s third try from a catch and drive line-out in three games. The conversion was missed by Tyler Price but Hull led 5-3.
The lead changed hands again in the 20th minute when Harrogate scrum-half nipped through unchallenged to score a converted try.
Down to 14 men for the final 10 minutes of the first half didn’t stop Hull from drawing level. Jose Urburu Gray scored from close range as Hull’s forwards dominated.
A try in the first minute of the second half by Jonny Ashman gave Harrogate a lead they wouldn’t surrender. Missed tackles were to blame from Hull’s perspective. A second try from followed four minutes later from full-back Olly Rosillo to put the home side in the ascendency further to lead 22-10.
A penalty from Riddell in the 58th minute was the final score of the game.
Harrogate will now take on Sheffield Tigers in the final on April 26.
Harrogate end Hull’s cup dream
