Huddersfield YMCA’s newly-formed Under 17s side couldn’t have made a better start to their Yorkshire Junior Colts League campaign as they stormed to a 37-0 victory at Skipton.
The Laund Hill club’s side included three Rugby League players in their first Union match and also fielded a brand new half-back combination in Conor Paga and Sam Pegg.
Although Skipton started the game strongly to put full-back Danny Flanagan under intense pressure, the visitors opened up a 17-0 interval advantage.
Flanker Will Perfitt opened the scoring when he broke the cover to race over before centre Morgan Longley avoided several would-be tacklers to double the tally.
And just before the break Longley raced clear of the defence to score his second, which was converted by Flanagan.
For much of the early second period YM showed their relative lack of experience as they gave away many penalties for infringements at the breakdown.
But one really encouraging factor was the YM forwards’ play in the scrums and line-outs.
This gave a good deal of quality possession, and eventually winger Seth Clay showed great determination when given enough space to work as he dived over in the corner for a neat score.
Later in the second half the game opened up as defences tired, with Longley completing a fine hat-trick after he picked up a loose ball and stormed over.
Second-rower Will Nichols then used his power and a couple of neat changes of direction to drive over the line before centre Austin Briggs completed the scoring when the defence over-committed and he sped into the game and powered over.
