Amateur Rugby Union: Champagne style in stunning success!
Apr 20 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Champagne style in stunning success!
The spectators had barely finished talking about the thrilling first half when Huddersfield re-took the lead again, almost from the kick-off, as quick released passes from front-runners Tony Stringwell and James Davies put Barry Jacobsz into space, and the powerful South African spotted a gap and blazed away to touch down by the left-hand corner flag, a try to which Johnson added a fine conversion.
The visitors were never going to lay down and roll over, however, and it was that man Nutt who put his side ahead for a fourth time, when he supported Wallwork and received the try-scoring pass to score his second touchdown, but this time he was off target with the extras although he knocked over a penalty to extend Fylde’s lead to 32-28 midway through the half.
Home hearts were sagging at this point, but Field’s talisman Johnson brought it back to a one-point game with his fourth penalty strike, quickly followed by a long-range effort for No5, and with five minutes left of normal time, slotted over a drop goal to give his team a five-point margin.
Huddersfield now had self-belief and on their next set of drives, Jacobsz – in his most telling display since joining the club – sealed a stunning victory when he powered his way over from close range for his second try in the right corner, Johnson again splitting the uprights with his conversion.
There was still some desperate defending to do, however, as the referee suddenly found eight minutes of overtime, but defend they did magnificently, and Huddersfield were, understandably, jubilant when the final whistle eventually went.
Huddersfield: Paxman (B), Shaw, Clarke (Mortimore 60), Paxman (L), Johnson (M); Johnson (C), Hinchliffe (Clayton 75); Slater, Davies (Gough 70), Stringwell, Hinchliff, Rhodes, Jacobsz, Whitehead, Sharpe (Sharrock 60). Sub (not used), Battye.
Fylde: Wallwork, Royle, Albinson, Hunter, Brennand; Nutt, Aikman, Lewis, Holmes, Irving, Atkinson, Ferguson, Bowman, Palmer, Beaumont. Subs: Scott, Stephenson, Wilks, Smith, Banks.
Referee: Chris Seeley (Rugby).
