Amateur Rugby Union: Champagne style in stunning success!

Apr 20 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Champagne style in stunning success!

HUDDERSFIELD produced their best performance of the season to stun high-flying Fylde 44-32 in a real thriller at Lockwood Park.

It truly was a sparkling display of champagne rugby by both sides on a sun-kissed day, as the lead changed hands no fewer than eight times and held the crowd – which included the former England captain Bill Beaumont – in raptures.

There was barely time to catch breath, as National III North title-chasing Fylde drew first blood in the opening minute with a penalty from their free-scoring fly-half Steve Nutt, who was to finish with a personal haul of 24 points.

But the Fylde No10 was matched point for point by Huddersfield’s very own ‘jewel in the crown’ Chris Johnson, who produced another telling display with his cultured boot and levelled the game within a minute of the re-start.

Young centre Matt Clarke, who has rapidly become Field’s top tryscorer (he has crossed eight times in just seven games), chased a Lee Paxman kick, and when highly-rated winger Nick Royle fumbled it, the Huddersfield Academy man stripped it from his grasp, pushed him off and raced behind the sticks.

Johnson added the conversion, along with two subsequent penalties to give the Lockwood Park men a 16-3 lead after only 17 minutes.

But the Red Rose men are not second in the table for nothing, and they hit back in dynamic fashion scoring two tries in three minutes, through Royle and his opposite wing partner Oliver Brennand, with Nutt putting his side ahead again with his two conversions.

Sterling work from the home forwards set up the position for Johnson to switch play out wide and Clarke managed to get his pass away in the tackle for Alex Shaw to scoot down the touchline and cross in the right corner; 21-17 to Huddersfield.

The lead was shortlived however, as Nutt again took advantage of some slack marking in the centre of the field and scythed through under the posts to send Fylde in 24-21 ahead the break.