Amateur RU: Yorkshire Cup test for Huddersfield at Leeds Carnegie

Apr 21 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Yorkshire Cup test for Huddersfield at Leeds Carnegie

BUOYED by Saturday’s cracking win over Fylde, Huddersfield return to the Yorkshire Cup trail tonight when they tackle the mighty Leeds Carnegie at West Park Bramhope (7.30pm).

Crowned National I champions a week ago, Leeds suffered a 23-18 defeat to Moseley in the EDF National Trophy final at Twickenham at the weekend, and it remains to be seen as to how strong a side they put out in tonight’s semi-final.

It will be the third year in succession that Huddersfield have been paired with Leeds, and the honours so far are even, the Lockwood Park men winning two years ago 16-14 in Leeds, while last year it was Carnegie’s turn to take the spoils with a 47-9 victory in Huddersfield.

Having already won their League title, Leeds may decide to include a number of first teamers, but having had a hard game at Twickenham, it will probably be a predominantly second team/development squad.

On Saturday, Huddersfield pulled off a remarkable 44-32 victory over Fylde in their latest National III North clash, in front of the watching ex-England skipper Bill Beaumont, who was supporting his home club, for whom son Sam now plays at No8.

And tonight, Field may well be playing in front of another ex-England rugby union star Neil Back, who is now the coach at Leeds Carnegie.

Centre Matt Clarke picked up a shoulder injury against Fylde, and director of rugby Mark Sowerby and his assistant coach Glen Wilson, will probably give him a fitness test prior to the game, but definitely out is full-back Ben Paxman with a foot injury.

Huddersfield: Shaw, Johnson (M), Paxman (L), Clarke, Van Rooyen; Johnson (C), Rothery; Stringwell, Davies, Slater, Rhodes, Hinchliff, Whitehead, Jacobsz, Sharpe. Subs: Sharrock, Battye, Gough, Clayton, Owen.