Match report: Huddersfield YMCA 13 Moortown 12

Feb 15 2010 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Stead seals thriller

The home side looked set to extend their lead soon after the re-start with some excellent rugby which saw the ball go through several pairs of hands ending with winger Chris Beever going very close to a second try.

YM were gaining the upperhand as Moortown’s forwards were visibly tiring, and the home front row of Lawrence Sanderson, Stuart Dyke and the impressive Will Sellars made their presence felt, along with man-of-the-match flanker Tom Sharrock.

But for all that it was Moortown who regained the lead once again, thanks to Eastham’s fourth penalty to put the visitors 12-10 in front midway through the second period.

John Smith replaced try-scorer Swift on 60 minutes and went into the full-back slot with Horner moving up to stand-off, and his direct running began to open up Moortown, which almost led to another try through Shaw who ran a mazy path beating several tacklers, until stopped five yards short.

Two plays later, YM were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks and Stead made no mistake in nailing the kick. He did have another chance to extend the lead late in the game from distance, but just pushed it wide.

And the generously extended ‘extra time’ added on by referee Steve Hucket gave Moortown the chance to get back up field and put some late pressure on, but they never looked capable of breaking down YM’s defence.

YMCA: Horner; Ryder, Shaw, Stead, Beever; Swift (Smith 60), Marshall (Lockwood 7); Sanderson, Dyke (Stu), Sellars, Dyke (Ste), Hellawell, Lyon, Sharrock, Walker (Pollock 55).

Moortown: Minns (C), Wilkinson, Eastham, I’Anson, Gray, Lewis, Farrar, Houton, Hume, Hughes, Maycock, Hore, Thomas, Minns (J), Lewis.

Referee: Steve Hucket (South Yorkshire).

Huddersfield suffered a heavy 41-5 reversal at Macclesfield in National Division II North – report in tomorrow’s Examiner Sport.