Sowerby’s men face tough test

Aug 24 2007 by David Lockwood

HUDDERSFIELD entertain National League heavyweights Morley at Lockwood Park tomorrow (3.00) and are expecting a stiff pre-season workout.

“We had a bit of a run at Winnington Park last week, but Morley are clearly going to be a much tougher test, which is what we need now,” said Huddersfield’s Director of Rugby, Mark Sowerby.

“We have a couple of players on holiday and one or two more picked up injuries last week, so we have about four regulars missing, but the backbone of the team should be more or less sorted.

“Morley finished mid-table in National III North last season and they will no doubt be sending a pretty much full-strength side with their season kicking off next week, so it will be interesting to see how our boys go and how they react.”

Sowerby has chosen a squad, and will obviously mix and match throughout the game, with a number of players being equally at home in different positions, such as Tom Ainsworth, who doubles up at scrum half or on the wing.

The forwards on duty are Jim Howard, Chris Gough, James Davis, Tony Stringwell, Jack McPhail, Neil Pollock, Gavin Rhodes, Hamish Pratt, Mark Whitehead, Tom Sharrock and Sowerby himself, while the backs on duty are Lee Paxman, Tom Ainsworth, Damian Clayton, Chris Johnson, James Mortimer, Rob McFarlane, James Swift and Ollie Scrimshaw.

Two players who Sowerby is expecting to join Huddersfield’s ranks in the next few days are Tim Collins, a speedy Australian winger or full-back, and burly front rower Gary Whippy, pictured above, from New Zealand.

Whippy is a well-known figure to Huddersfield supporters, having played down at Lockwood Park three seasons back, while utility back Collins has been recommended by a former Wakefield colleague of Sowerby’s who now coaches at the Manly club in Sydney.

Huddersfield YMCA also have a run-out tomorrow when they entertain Rochdale at Laund Hill (3.00).