Let’s just focus on getting job done!

Mar 28 2008 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Let’s just focus on getting job done!

CONFIDENT Huddersfield travel to Sheffield tomorrow looking for the one point which they need to cement their North I play-off spot.

And after three weeks of inactivity, director of rugby Mark Sowerby has the luxury of being able to field a full strength side, with all the knocks and bruises rested and healed.

However, Sowerby has concerns that the long lay-off could work against his side.

“It’s good to get a rest occasionally, particularly when every game is a pressure situation, but three weeks is a bit extensive, and I’m just wary that we haven’t gone off the boil,” admitted Sowerby.

“Hopefully we can get straight into them from the kick-off and we’ll be going there pretty confident after the way we’ve performed in recent months.

“I’m looking forward to it, although a bit nervously, because we are now getting to the crux of the season.

“A win tomorrow would be fantastic as we could then go up to Westoe knowing we couldn’t possibly be caught by them for second spot. But as we need only one point, I’d be quite happy to settle for a draw if necessary!”

Leading tryscorer Mark Whitehead (11 tries) again goes in the back row with Hamish Pratt, who has been playing some explosive rugby in the last few weeks, with Sowerby himself at No8.

Stand-off Chris Johnson will belooking to add to his super tally of 269 points this season, as well as closing the try-scoring gap on Whitehead (Johnson has eight so far), and can quickly put the game out of Tigers’ reach.

Fifth-placed Tigers were going well mid-season, indeed they recently held North I champions-elect Kendal to 8-0 at the beginning of March, but recently have come in for some hammer, losing 60-8 at Hull after a 25-7 loss at mid-table Middlesbrough.

“They may have tailed off a bit in the last couple of games, but we know they’ll give us a pretty hard game on their field,” added Sowerby.

Huddersfield: McLaren, Shaw, Paxman (B), Paxman (L), Collins, Johnson, Clayton; Howard, Davies, Stringwell, Sharpe, Rhodes, Pratt, Whitehead, Sowerby. Subs: McPhail, Hinchliff, Mortimore.

Falcons (v Sheffield Tigers, home, 3.00 meet 1.45): Parkinson, Stancliffe, Atkinson, Wilson Parry, Scrimshaw, Ainsworth, Shiel, Entressangle, Slater, Takis, Marsden, Davies, Ramsden, Sharrock. Subs: Clarkson, Stephenson, Rothery, Battye, Grimes.

A Team (v Rishworthians, away, 3.00 meet 1.45): Tinker, Ball, Lockwood, Prescott, Joyce, Wood, Cleave, Lloyd-Townsend, Hayes, Stead, Baxter, Cundel, Hirst, Lancaster, Sowerby. Subs: Walker, Nunn, Jacques, Ellis.