SLAITHWAITE SARACENS have earned Huddersfield amateur rugby league’s top bragging rights for the 2010-2011 season.

Just five weeks after securing a last-second 22-20 home triumph, the Holliday Cup holders completed a memorable Pennine League Premier Division double over St Joseph’s at Fartown.

And in an almost carbon-copy of the first derby meeting, the victors were forced to come from behind to secure an excellent 30-22 away triumph.

That in itself shows exactly how much character the Saracens possess, as well as proving why they deserve to be part of the competition’s top flight for the first time.

With a number of their leading players moving to Swinton Lions after Christmas, it was always important for Slaithwaite to chalk up as many wins as possible early on to ensure their Premier League survival.

They’re already up to four this season – four more should surely be enough – and it’s possible these two victories over St Joseph’s could make all the difference in the world.

At the same time, Joe’s needn’t worry too much about retaining their Premier Division status.

Yes, these two defeats at the hands of Saracens will have been very painful to take.

But even in these setbacks it’s clear they have more than enough ability to secure another mid-table finish.

First of all, however, they need to get injured pack leader Graham Hyland – a big miss at the weekend – and influential hooker Phil Drain back in action as quickly as possible.

Drain was outstanding during the early exchanges, playing a massive part as Joe’s built up a deserved 12-0 advantage after 35 minutes.

Yet as soon as he was forced off the field with a damaged left ankle on the stroke of half-time the tide began to turn.

With the home side having lost such a pivotal player, the Saracens seized the initiative and began to take a firm grip on the contest – something that had seemed so highly unlikely during the opening period.

Within five minutes Joe’s were making their intentions clear, with desperate last-ditch defence denying Drain and Paul Horsfall opening scores.

So it was no surprise when the hosts took the lead after 12 minutes when Joe Flaherty’s great break created the position for Neil Barrett to collect on the 20, chip over, regather, touch down and add the conversion.

Although Darren Hawkyard and Stuart Dunbar came close to opening Slaithwaite’s account on their first serious raid after 23 minutes, it didn’t come as any real surprise when Joe’s doubled their lead five minutes before the break.

Again a Flaherty run from deep proved to be the catalyst, forcing the visitors on the back foot and eventually providing the opportunity for impressive full-back Sam Hendricks to come into the line at pace and charge through for Barrett to again add the extras and make it 12-0 at the break.

At that stage it wasn’t looking good for the out-of-sorts Saracens.

But in the second half they looked a completely different team.

Within two minutes of the restart they had halved the deficit as Niall Murphy forced his way over from close range on the back of a Joe’s drop-out and Danny Garside goaled.

Then by the 50th minutes the scores were level when Mick Bostock collected 15m out and showed great strength to barge his way over by the posts for converted try No2. All of a sudden, St Joseph’s realised this would be no cake-walk as the opening half may have suggested.

And when Lee St Hilaire plunged over for a power-packed try, converted by Barrett five minutes later, it looked as if the home side had regained the initiative.

But straight from the kick-off, a Joe’s mistake resulted in a Slaithwaite scrum and the ball was swept out for former Giants hero Paul Reilly to charge through.

Garside’s goal made the scores level again.

Such was the nature of what had become a thoroughly absorbing contest that it again came as no great surprise when Joe’s took the lead for a third time when Barrett’s chip bounced superbly for Roger Simpson to collect and race over for the first unconverted score of the afternoon with 15 minutes remaining.

After that, however, it was all Slaithwaite.

Having gained possession from a well-worked short kick-off, the Saracens quickly worked the play for Dunbar to feed Richard Flooks to touch down in the corner and make it 22-22.

With obvious tension now in the air, tempers flared and Joe’s prop Joe Gratino and Saracens full-back Ritchie Hawkward were sent to the sin-bin by referee and top Super League touchjudge Tony Martin for their part in a brawl.

Slaithwaite were awarded the subsequent penalty and from that set, Bostock fed Dunbar to cross and give the visitors the lead for the first time with 74 minutes on the clock.

And with Joe’s spilling possession in a desperate bid to snatch a late winner, Slaithwaite sealed their victory a minute before the end when Richard Aka attempted an interception close to his line, the ball fell to the ground and Dave Holmes picked up and strolled over to finish another memorable derby encounter.

St Joseph’s: Hendricks; Allette, Bradshaw, St Hilaire, Aka; Barrett, James; C Williams, Drain, Horsfall, Joyce, Donlan, Flaherty. Subs: Simpson, J Williams, Dalby, Gratino.

Slaithwaite Saracens: R Hawkyard; Flooks, Dunbar, Mitchell, Holmes; Burkinshaw, Worthington; McAfferty, Garside, Karolzuc, Kenchington, Murphy, D Hawkyard. Subs: Bostock, Mellor, Reilly, Guinan.

Referee: Tony Martin.