HUDDERSFIELD’S Director of Rugby Mark Sowerby is calling for a big improvement at Middlesbrough tomorrow.
His side finished off in disappointing fashion against Darlington in their last North I home game, having opened up a 20-3 half-time lead.
“We were without a game last week, which was less than ideal, and if you were to look at the way we finished off in the previous game, you would have to say our prospects tomorrow are daunting,” admitted Sowerby.
“Middlesbrough will be much stiffer, especially on their own ground where they have an impressive record
“So we are going to have to improve if we are to continue to press for promotion.
“Our destiny is in our own hands, and recent results elsewhere have strengthened our cause even further, but we must not let that distract us from the job in hand.
“I’m backing us to win all our remaining home games, although we do have some hard games coming up, but before then I’m expecting a tough away game in Middlesbrough tomorrow.
“I really think we deserve to get a shot at promotion this season, because we have improved year on year, and this is now a great opportunity to achieve that aim.”
Two changes from the side which began so effectively against Darlington in their last run-out brings George Hinchliff into the second row, alongside Nick Sharpe, while regular scrum half Damian Clayton returns in place of Tom Ainsworth.
Elsewhere the side is the same with full-back Rob McLaren having recovered from a bang in the face, while hooker James Davies has shaken off a leg injury which forced an early retirement in the second half against Darlington.
Huddersfield: McLaren; Shaw, Paxman (B), Mortimore, Collins; Howard, Davies, Stringwell, Hinchliff, Sharpe, Pratt, Whitehead, Sowerby. Subs: McPhail, Sharrock, Ainsworth.
A team (Cleckheaton, away, 2.15). From: Rothery, Stancliffe, Wilson, Prescott, Parry, Lockwood, Cleave, Lloyd-Townsend, Hayes, Nixon, Sowerby, Cundall, Davies, Littlewood, Gough, Later, Gledhill, Stead, Shiel, Lancaster.
