Huddersfield RUFC bounced back from a disappointing defeat at Harrogate in emphatic style as they overcame third placed Leicester Lions 27-23.
It was a nervy last 10 or so minutes for Huddersfield but they managed to cling on to an all important victory to defeat the high-flying Lions.
A midweek training session led by Giants captain Danny Brough looked to have inspired Huddersfield’s defence at the end of both halves.
They stayed resilient despite being down to 14 men for a period before half time, as Austen Thompson was sinbinned.
In their previous game against Harrogate, Field struggled to get out of the blocks – but there were no complaints in the early exchanges here, with some end-to-end rugby putting the score at 15-15 after 25 minutes.
Field’s Tom Owen got the scoring underway right in the corner after just eight minutes after some good work from Lewis Workman, who was impressive all afternoon.
Chris Bell was unable to convert but this wasn’t the case for the rest of the afternoon, as he went on to score 17 of Huddersfield’s 27 points with his right boot.
The Lions responded instantly from kick off as winger Devon Constant caught the falling ball to then skip past the Huddersfield defence to bundle over the line with Jonathan Williams failing to covert, levelling the contest up at 5-5.
It was then Huddersfield’s turn to reply as two minutes later Thompson got over the line with Bell scoring the first of his many points by converting.
Huddersfield extended their lead to 15-8 thanks to a penalty from Bell, only to be pegged back again to 15-15 courtesy of a Collingham try and a Williams conversion.
This was the beginning of some brave defending from Gareth Lewis’s men, as they managed to hold out with only 14 players on the field up to the stroke of half time. It was at that stage when Bell got his name on the score sheet again thanks to a penalty.
The start of the second half didn’t go to plan for Field, as Collingham scored his second try of the afternoon after just four minutes of play, but Williams was unable to convert.
However, this would be the last try of the afternoon and Bell’s superb kicking continued as he despatched three penalties in a row to take it to 27-20 on the hour mark.
Huddersfield then frustrated their opponents, despite some nervy moments and refereeing decisions that didn’t please the Lockwood crowd, to only allow the Lions an extra three points from a penalty.
Head coach Lewis said: “I’m delighted with the victory. It was a disappointing result last week against Harrogate.
“I asked for a response, a few home truths were said during the week and the lads fronted up and put on a good performance.”
Field return to Lockwood Park this Saturday to take on Stourbridge.
