Leaders Hinckley ended Huddersfield RU’s unbeaten run at five with a 41-18 success in National 2 North.

After a closely-contested first half hour, Hinckley benefited from a rub-of-the-green refereeing decision which tipped the first half in their favour.

The league leaders went on to produce a decisive display in the second period to end battling Huddersfield’s impressive unbeaten sequence.

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The teams traded penalties in the first few minutes as they sounded each other out and tried to gain an upper hand.

First on the scoresheet was Hinckley full back Calum Dacey, with Huddersfield’s Harry Davey landing an equaliser on 15 minutes.

Huddersfield took the lead when Davey scored his second penalty six minutes later.

This followed a strong spell of pressure from the visitors in which Declan Thompson, well backed up by Richard Piper, had made an incisive centre-field break.

Jamie Skerritt, the Hinckley open side flanker, was shown a yellow card for his illegal role in halting the advance and Davey took the points.

With the wind in their sails, Field continued the forward momentum and another fine break by Ben Morrill took play to within 10 metres of the Hinckley line.

Disappointment for Joel Hinchliffe and his teammates following Huddersfield's defeat at Hinckley. Picture by Steve Wells

At the breakdown Hinckley employed a little brinkmanship to stifle the Huddersfield attack and with the crowd expecting the referee to raise his arm and signal another penalty to them in front of the sticks, play was allowed to continue.

Hinckley managed to clear their lines and, with the assistance of some indifferent tactical play by Field, ended up with a line-out inside the 22 at the other end.

From the take, lock Alex Salt scored the first of his team’s five tries which Dacey converted.

A further penalty gave his team a 13-6 lead at the break.

After the re-start Huddersfield were put on the back foot and the deficit was doubled on 50 minutes.

Hinckley fly half Tom Wheatcroft nipped over behind a strong scrum and Dacey added the conversion.

The Hinckley forwards were now beginning to dominate the set pieces, making the job of getting back on terms a more difficult one for their visitors.

However, when Davey took a neat interception and scampered through under the posts for try two, possibilities opened up. His conversion took his team within a single score.

Fine individual tries by Hinckley winger James Martin and scrum half Joe Glover mid-way through the half followed and made the game safe for the leaders.

Although a try by Piper with 15 minutes to go raised hopes of an attacking bonus point, it was Hinckley who ended up with the final score.

A penalty had taken play inside the Hinckley 22 and Piper powered over from close range for Field to extend his scoring run to three in the last three matches.

With two minutes remaining Hinckley replacement Joe Wilson had the last word in proceedings, rounding off the match with a final try.

Having received a tidy pass from the base of a good line-out, he made space for the touchdown through a crowded defence.

Huddersfield pressed for another score in stoppage time with Hinckley penalised and pegged back, but the home defence held firm.