A GUTSY, determined display saw Harrogate RUFC avoid relegation from National League Two with a 39-28 win at Waterloo.

Harrogate travelled to Merseyside knowing that only victory would do, and they achieved it with a performance which ranks as one of their best for some months.

The victory lifted Harrogate to fifth from bottom in the table, a point above Esher, who have one game to play, while Nuneaton (52 points) and Bracknell (51) have completed their fixtures and the bottom side are Rosslyn Park (34 points, one game to play).

'Gate took the game to Waterloo from the first whistle and were 12-0 up after just four minutes through tries by centre Jamie Barker and wing Steve Parsons and a Lee Cholewa conversion.

Though Waterloo quickly hit back, as they were to do throughout the game, Harrogate were in no mood to be denied and before half-time flanker Mike Hills, who had an outstanding game, and lock Matt Challinor extended the lead with converted tries.

While Waterloo kept on coming, centre Matt Duncombe pegged them back again with Harrogate's fifth try as the whole team continued to show tremendous commitment.

Cholewa added the extra two points and when the stand-off tacked on two penalties it left Waterloo needing two converted tries plus another score to win.

Updated: 09:14 Monday, May 02, 2005