Huddersfield were held to an 18-18 draw in their first home game of the new National II North league season against Harrogate.

In a game of few tries but some excellent kicking by Huddersfield’s Joel Hinchcliffe, Harrogate rallied late on to dash the hosts hopes.

Huddersfield got on the scoreboard early on with Hinchcliffe converting his first penalty after five minutes.

It didn’t take long for Harrogate to hit back and they scored the first try of the game after the ball broke from a line-out down the left-hand side, leaving the Huddersfield defence exposed, and added the conversion.

Huddersfield didn’t back down however, and were awarded two penalties in quick succession, both converted by Hinchcliffe to put them 9-7 ahead.

However, Huddersfield’s Charlie Martin was then sin-binned for a shoulder charge just a few minutes after the second penalty, giving Harrogate a way back into the game.

Harrogate couldn’t take advantage and were a man down themselves for a similar offence on the stroke of half-time.

Huddersfield got off to a good start in the second half with another penalty being converted by Hinchcliffe.

Harrogate were then awarded two penalties of their own in quick succession with both being converted.

Hinchcliffe converted yet another penalty for Huddersfield to bring the score to 15-13 in their favour, with Harrogate then missing a pen of their own.

Harrogate were a man down for the second time as the referee saw another shoulder charge, with Hinchcliffe converting the resulting penalty.

Harrogate pressed as the game entered its final minutes, with Huddersfield holding out well.

However, they finally broke through with two minutes left on the clock after a sustained attack forced its way past the resilient Huddersfield defence for a try.

The resulting conversion was missed to leave the score at 18-18 with no time left for either team to go for the victory.

A minutes silence was held before the game in memory of Isaac Nash, who was a junior player at Huddersfield.

Players and the crowd stood together before kick off and a collection was taken by the club for the trust fund that has been set up in his memory.

Huddersfield RUFC: Hodgson; Clarke, Mitchell, Martin, S Walker; Hinchcliffe, Jeffries; Battye, Thornton, Sanderson, Thompson, Rhodes, Malthouse, Hoyle, Sharp, Brown. Replacements: Purcell, H Walker, Bills, Bird