Huddersfield’s winning run disappointingly came to an end with a 25-21 defeat at Broadstreet after they’d looked comfortable.
After such a storming start to 2015 in National II North, Gareth Lewis and his men were hoping the stretch the run to seven wins in a row, but a poor second half performance coupled with a much-improved Broadstreet enabled the home side overturn a 13-point half-time deficit.
Lewis, who had been hoping to match or better the club’s best-ever run of eight wins at this level, commented: “We are disappointed in the manner of our defeat but, in many ways, this could be good for us.
“The boys have been brilliant over the last six weeks and should be proud of their efforts – we will stick together and be stronger.
“There’s a big week of training ahead now and next Saturday (at home to Stockport) can’t come soon enough.”
Huddersfield made a positive start to the match, immediately putting a nervous-looking home side on the back foot and taking the lead after Joel Hinchliffe’s fourth-minute penalty.
After holding out from Huddersfield’s bright start, Broadstreet hit back with a penalty of their own on 12 minutes through Ben Palmer, which was quickly cancelled out by another Hinchliffe penalty four minutes later.
There was a sense of agitation in the home crowd which seemed to transfer onto the pitch and Huddersfield took full advantage of this – and a sin-binning – to score the first try on 26 minutes.
A great passing move allowed David Hall, on the right wing, to carry the ball well and he switched to Ben Hoyle to finish the attack.
Hinchliffe completed the conversion and Huddersfield began to regain their early momentum, winning another penalty three minutes later and, when Hinchliffe again scored, the visitors held a 13-3 advantage.
They kept hold of the lead until half time, with Broadstreet not looking likely to trouble them and, therefore, another win was in sight.
The home side looked much-improved after the break and scored an early try with Nathan Tilsley scrambling the ball over and Ben Palmer converting.
From there Broadstreet looked to put Huddersfield under serious pressure with the away side yet to get going in the half, but holding out defensively.
However, it was just a matter of time before the breakthrough and it finally came on 58 minutes when Nick Thatcher broke through the defence to score, Palmer’s conversion putting Broadstreet in the lead for the first time.
Another try followed soon after with Sam Gibbons finding space on the right-hand side to increase the lead to 22-16.
Having looked so comfortable at half time, Huddersfield were suddenly in disarray and were now looking second-best to the resurgent home side in every department.
A Broadstreet penalty was scored by Palmer with 15 minutes remaining to increase the lead further, and the game now looked over as a contest.
Huddersfield had to improve to stand any sort of chance of a comeback and started to finally apply pressure to the Broadstreet defence once more.
They clawed a try back on 76 minutes, a great push putting Nick Sharpe over the line, and Huddersfield now sought desperately to complete a dramatic comeback and pushed Broadstreet further and further back towards their own line.
Had the game continued for five more minutes it seemed likely Huddersfield would have scored, but unfortunately they didn’t have that luxury and their memorable winning run was over.
Huddersfield: Hodson, Knight, Hodgson, Owen, Hall, Hinchliffe, Jeffrey, Purcell, Thornton, Sanderson, Rhodes, Thompson, Malthouse, Hoyle, Sharpe. Subs: Morrill, Wood, Battye, Rawsthorne, Walker (H).
