Huddersfield Rugby Union Club are the proud champions of National III North.

Lockwood Park was awash with champagne as they clinched the silverware in cracking style with a five-try 38-19 victory over plucky Percy Park.

Defeat condemned the visitors to relegation, but the story was all about Huddersfield’s return to National II under valiant skipper Nick Sharpe, head coach Gareth Lewis and manager Lee Paxman.

Sharpe, who powered over for one of the tries, explained: “I think this win summed up the whole year really.

“We are good enough to blow anyone away on our day and, when we are on top of our game, I think we are the best team in the league.

“It’s strange, but we seem to have a 10-minute spell in every game when we get everyone on edge, but apart from that we are capable of taking apart any opposition at this level.

“This is terrific for everyone. Last year we were in a bit of trouble but we’ve turned it around with a great set of lads under Lee Paxman, Gareth Lewis, Ian Shuttleworth and lots of other people behind the scenes – it’s been a whole club effort and the title is just reward for the season.

“We will enjoy the celebrations and then start looking forward to the tougher challenge of National II. It’s great to be back there.”

Percy Park showed they weren’t going to go down without a fight as early as the fourth minute when Jonny Dubois went over for a try after a break by Jack Davidson, Richie Berne and tricky runner Alistair Blair, although George Lewis failed with the conversion wide out.

Field were scratchy at that stage and missing tackles, but they got back on terms seven minutes later when Elliot Hodgson went in following a sustained spell of pressure by the forwards, and they were ahead 7-5 when Tom Hodson added the extras.

Mistakes hurt both sides before a brilliant 26th-minute break down the left was matched by Sharpe’s astute support play and he was able to burst the final 30m to score, with Hodson converting for a 14-5 advantage.

The home side’s third try came six minutes later, after great work by Sharpe provided Hodgson with the chance to side-step past four would-be tacklers to plant the ball over the line, and when Hodson added the conversion it looked to be all over at 21-5.

A minute before the break, however, Blair scored an interception try for Lewis to add an easy conversion and, after turning round 21-12 down, Percy Park got themselves right back in the contest with a Connor Tubman try and Lewis conversion seven minutes into the second half, after Giles Hetherington had been shown a yellow card by Southport referee Ben Davis.

Huddersfield were forced to dig deep to hold onto their lead, some heroic tackling defending the line, but any fears the home supporters may have had were allayed 10 minutes from time when popular replacement David Hall powered over from range, marking the moment with a spectacular leaping celebration before Hodson added the goal.

Hodson added a penalty two minutes from the end to take Field 31-19 clear and there was still time for busy No9 Joel Hinchliffe to score a cracking breakaway try in the corner, with Hodson’s tremendous conversion leaving everyone on a high.

Field still have one game to play against Sandal at home on Saturday, but it’s mission accomplished for a club which is very much on the up.

Huddersfield – Hodson, Hodgson, Van Rooyen, Owen, Clark, Hetherington, Hinchliffe, Battye, Lancaster, Stringwell, Rhodes (G), Rhodes (N), Sykes, Hoyle, Sharpe. Replacements: Birkhead, Thornton, Hall.