HUDDERSFIELD RU’s Under 17s were denied victory following a last-minute try by opponents Ilkley.
A switch of venue enabled the teams to compete on Ilkley’s first team pitch and Huddersfield enjoyed the upper hand in the early part of the contest, only a couple of knock-ons preventing them from opening the scoring.
As it was, Ilkley scored the first points when their excellent full-back collected a chip kick inside his own ‘22’.
Instead of opting for a touch kick, he went for a long kick downfield and his pace allowed him to get to the ball first, where he hacked on over the line and won the race to touch down.
Another chance was wasted by Huddersfield from another knock-on, but when they did get the ball out wide to the wings, too often it was turned back inside into the covering defence.
Following another penalty to Ilkley, the visitors failed to clear their lines and after a line-out, the home side forced their way over the line for a second try.
Although two tries down, Huddersfield were competitive in most areas and for the last five minutes of the half managed to cut out the mistakes, putting pressure on the Ilkley defence.
An interception by winger Sweeten set up captain Woodhouse, who continued the break before off-loading to his centre partner Marr who scored in the corner.
And straight from the kick-off, debutant flanker Perfitt linked well with Gwaze who in turn fed Marr to score his second try and leave the scores level at 10-10 at the interval.
From the re-start Woodhouse was tackled just short of the line, but good pressure from Wilkinson had Ilkley in trouble and when the backs came into play Gregg went over for his side’s third try, this one goaled by Addy.
The visitors insisted on handing possession back to Ilkley, however, and eventually it told when the second row forced his way over Field’s line to set up a nail-biting finish.
With time running out Huddersfield had another attack from inside their own ‘22’, but when the ball was kicked ahead, Ilkley’s full-back took advantage of a kindly bounce to retrieve and then set off on a run and scored the match-winning try on the stroke of full-time.
