Harrogate produced a brave effort but went out of the Powergen Cup 59-0 at full-time professional opponents Worcester.
The home side had five points on the board within two minutes of the start, but did not score again until Harrogate scrum-half Rhys Morgan was yellow-carded for a high tackle and spent ten minutes in the sin-bin.
Fly-half Lee Cholewa took over the scrum-half duties, but during Morgan's absence the home
side ran in two converted tries.
A penalty try for Worcester just before half-time gave them a 26-0 lead.
With players looking for premiership status, Worcester had some powerful playmakers in the backs and when the opportunities came their finishing was clinical.
With almost a point a minute the scoreboard kept ticking for
Worcester in the second half as they ran in four converted tries and one unconverted.
The 1,500 spectators were impressed with Harrogate's gallant display and were delighted to see Harrogate choosing to run their penalty opportunities.
Harrogate also took the opportunity to give some valuable
experience to their seven replacements who all came on in the second half.
With five minutes of the game remaining Harrogate's Paul Clayton managed to finally cross the Worcester line only to be brought back by the referee for
a forward pass.
Worcester will be at home to Exeter in the next round of the cup. Harrogate can now concentrate on their League Division Two aspirations with a home fixture against Doncaster next Saturday.
Updated: 09:46 Monday, October 06, 2003
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