A STUNNING performance by the Huddersfield Under 15 side sent them blazing a trail to the Yorkshire Cup final after beating Ilkley by six tries to one in a 34-11 win at the home of the Dalesmen.
Having already disposed of Ripon, Malton & Norton and Old Brodleians, chalking up 40-point wins on each occasion, expectations were high, even though Ilkley boasted several known quality players in their ranks.
It was obvious the home team were going to cause Huddersfield problems taking the lead with a couple of penalties after lock James Barnett had opened the scoring with the visitors’ first try.
Huddersfield eventually began to settle down and play a more structured game with strong forward work securing the ball, while scrum half Ed Garside began to boss the pack, and it was his combination with fly-half Rob Denton which sent Connor Field on an explosive run through the line to score his side’s second try, to which he added his own conversion.
The Lockwood Park pack were now dominating with lock Tom Kay and prop Dan Millington winning and disrupting the line-outs, while there was some strong rucking from flanker Ben Longton and No8 Aaron Davis.
After taking play to within 10 metres of Ilkley’s line, Huddersfield were awarded a penalty, and Will Cambridge tapped to himself and crossed the line to put his side 17-6 ahead at half-time.
In the second half, Barnett took over the hooking duties with Isaac Griffiths going off injured, replaced by Ashley Boyles, who immediately made an impact with a bulldozing run.
Jacob Glover continued progress with another run before off-loading to Kay, but his touchdown was adjudged to be a double movement.
Ilkley briefly relieved the pressure, but Field returned to the ‘red zone’ where he shipped the ball out to Harry Freeth to score, Field also adding the conversion.
The home side rallied and cut the deficit to 24-11 with an unconverted try.
Huddersfield were not going to let them gain a foothold back in the contest however, and when Field, again charged deep into Ilkley territory, his fellow centre Seb Wood looped round on the overlap to score a superb try.
The remaining subs were introduced, but it was another stunning breakaway from Field which set Huddersfield up for their final try, scored by Aaron Davis to wrap up a great victory and a place in the final against Otley, at West Park Bramhope, on Sunday, April 28.
