Amateur RU: Huddersfield 50 Preston G 5

Mar 29 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD skipper Mark Whitehead served notice of intent with a stunning hat trick of tries – just when his side needed it most!

With his side struggling to get out of the relegation zone, the club captain, who has started the last few games on the substitutes’ bench, ripped Grasshoppers apart with a dynamic performance in what was almost certainly Huddersfield’s best display of the season.

And the seven-try victory couldn’t have come at a better time.

For after four successive defeats, the Lockwood Park team were clearly desperate for a victory as they enter the final phase of a season which promised much at the start, but then fizzled away and threatened to end their centenary year in disappointment.

After three solid displays against three of the top sides, which yielded only a solitary bonus point, Field came out firing on all fronts and got away to the best possible start with a try in the second minute.

And it was that man Whitehead, who only got the starting nod an hour before kick-off when second row reported ill, who began the drive which led to hooker James Davies blasting a hole in Hoppers defence before releasing lock Ben Harris to crash over from close range.

Chris Johnson converted and then added an 18th minute penalty to put his side 10-0 up before Whitehead was again in the frame, this time finishing off a break created by centre Ben Paxman.

Preston enjoyed the bulk of possession in the half however, and had their handling and distribution been better could have scored at least two tries, but in the event had to settle for a late score from flanker Jordan Pearson to send them in 17-5 down at the break.