Amateur RU: Huddersfield defence provides winning platform

Oct 5 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Rugby union: Huddersfield defence provides winning platform

Huddersfield RU 22 Fylde 15

(National II North)

HUDDERSFIELD bounced back from last week’s defeat to make it four wins out of five, with what in the end turned out to be a comfortable victory over Fylde at Lockwood Park.

Although Huddersfield scored three good tries, the win was under-pinned by a very solid defensive display, the only lapse coming with a breakaway score from Fylde’s left-winger Oliver Brennand, while a late pushover from prop Andrew Irving would not have come into the reckoning had Wetherby referee Andrew Vertigan not found seven minutes of injury time from somewhere!

The visitors did look lively in the first half and their aggressive approach and ‘bullying’ tactics did tend to unsettle Huddersfield who had to survive some early pressure before taking the lead on 16 minutes.

A good touch-finding kick from fly-half Chris Johnson (one of several he made during the game) got Huddersfield deep down into Fylde territory and after Gavin Rhodes won the line-out, a quick pass out right found Rhodes’ second row partner Ben Harris lurking in the centre position and he reached out over the line for the first score of the match.

Unluckily Johnson’s conversion attempt from near the right-hand touchline and into a fierce wind, struck the upright and bounced out.

Fylde hit back within two minutes however, when the home side went into a ruck with possession, only for Brennand to suddenly burst out it with the ball in hand and streaked down the left touchline, with no-one in range to stop him.

Tom Barlow landed the conversion and eight minutes later put Huddersfield further behind when knocking over a penalty after try-scorer Harris found himself in the sin-bin for interference, the first of four yellow cards brandished by the referee.

Next to go were the two scrum halves, Damian Clayton (Huddersfield) and Craig Aikman after the Fylde man was seen throwing a number of punches into a ruck, while Huddersfield’s No9 followed him into the bin after his attempts as ‘mediator’.