Hull looked unassailable with a halftime lead of 17-0 but Harrogate made exemplary use of their catch and drive technique at the lineout to score four second half tries and hold Hull to a drawn game.
Hull started well and after just six minutes prop Mike Dias picked up at the base of a ruck and drove over near the posts for an unconverted try.
Harrogate were quick to respond and were unlucky not to score when their centre was beaten by the bounce as he tried to follow a kick through in Hull’s 22 area.
Missed penalties by both sides in the fifteenth and twentieth minutes were followed after 26 minutes by a Hull try.
Lee Birch kicked into the right hand corner after a penalty award to Hull and from the resulting lineout the pack drove over the line with hooker Tom Rice being credited with the unconverted try.
Hull then had to withstand a period of intense Harrogate pressure and when they finally broke the stranglehold they stormed upfield
Hartogate’s desperate defence saw their centre Andrew Lawson yellow carded after 38 minutes and Hull took advantage as centre Ali Heard was able to drive through a couple of defenders on his way to a try converted by off-half Steve Johnson giving a 17-0 half-time advantage.
The second period saw Hull concede an early try to a Harrogate catch and drive awarded to backrow man Guy Cooper converted by Luke White after 46 minutes.
A concerted effort from Hull seemed to have sealed victory when second row man Liam Regardsoe took a well timed pass from scrum half Harvey Harding to go in under the posts.
The conversion by off half Steve Johnson saw Hull leading 24-7 and likely winners.
However, Hull were then rocked back as Harrogate brought on their forward subs and the balance of power changed.
Harrogate scored three tries with one being converted by Luke White.
Tries by Andy Boyd and Tim Harvey were classic catch and drive affairs after 64 and 74 minutes whilst the last try by full back Olly Osillo in the far left hand corner resulted from a prolonged battering of the Hull line.
The missed conversion saw the game end with honours even with both sides earning a bonus point.
Richard Gore
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 