Huddersfield YMCA Under 11s scored a 26-19 victory over Halifax in their first home game of the season.

It was a terrific team effort in which YM put their pre-season training into practice, although YM were 7-0 down inside five minutes thanks to a try and conversion.

YM were soon back in it, however, as Jude Calvert raced through a gap in the Halifax defence to score their first try.

Midway through the half, George Barnet ran in a second try and YM led 12-7 at the break.

The second half started like the first with Halifax taking the early initiative, which paid off with a well-won try. The conversion took them into a 14-12 lead.

This provoked the right kind of response from YM.

Patrick Higgins won a battle on the Halifax line to squeeze his first try and the conversion made it 19-14.

YM played some attractive rugby after that, with Ben Graham and Giles Garside catching the eye with telling runs.

Calvert put in a great run,  JJ Russell produced some well-timed tackles and Alfie Roper on his debut looked like a promising signing for the team. A great try followed by another conversion took the home team 26-14 clear.

Halifax were not going down without a fight and YM needed fine work from James Nichols, Oscar Darde Whitehouse, Adam Hayes and Ellie Walker to keep them in front.

Halifax did, however, get a try and it led to a nervy finish for YM, although Charlie Toomes kept possession well.

Man of the match for YM was George Barton, top tackler James Nichols and most promising player Alfie Roper.

Northampton have announced that performance director Nick Johnston has left the club with immediate effect.

Johnston arrived at Franklin’s Gardens from Sale Sharks in 2008. Saints say his departure is “by mutual

consent“.

“Nick has been an important person behind the scenes over the past few years, and I am sorry to see

him leave us,“ Northampton chief executive Allan Robson said.

“He has worked extremely hard to get our performance department into a place where it is the envy of the other Aviva Premiership clubs and at the cutting edge.”