Yorkshire Division Three: Harrogate Pythons 0 Baildon 6

AFTER a game of high tension where defences were on top, Baildon's players emerged with muddy faces and toothy grins following a win that lifted them off the bottom of the Yorkshire Division Three table.

The visitors were facing a side with a mean defence and a strong set-piece, but resurgent Baildon still notched a third successive victory. 

After several seasons playing at the Army Foundation College on Pennypot Lane, Pythons now have a wonderful new home at Station View in Starbeck, but after a week of heavy rain the pitch could have rivalled Aireborough's or Burley's for mud.

Baildon's defence had to be good from the off, good speed and communication helping them to make their tackles, but they soon lost prop Adam Hewitt with a fractured thumb.

Chances came and went for both sides in a game that was well refereed by Ben Glover, with Luke Strauss hesitating when he could have gone outside his man for a try, while the visitors also blew a two-to-one overlap by kicking possession away.

But Nick Lister's boot kept Baildon in the right parts of the field, and Ollie Williams landed a penalty when Pythons were guilty of holding on.

However, after Matt Withers received a yellow card for a high tackle, Baildon had to endure sustained pressure, and the hosts probably deserved the chance of a shot at goal to level matters.

The visitors were still a man down at the start of the second half, but they were helped by a home player picking the ball up in an offside position, allowing Williams to land a second penalty.

With Josh Laughrey and Tom Cluett putting in tenacious tackles and Pythons being pinned back by Baildon's kicking game, the visitors thought that they had scored a try when Dan Cookson exploited some space down the blindside, but Nathan King was hauled down just short of the line under the posts.

Withers returned to add solidity to Baildon's defence, but the visitors were nervous that their lead would not hold until they won two scrums against the head late on.