HUDDERSFIELD Rugby Union Club created history in the climax of the 2007-08 season by winning promotion to the National League for the first time in the club’s 99-year existence.
Having finished runners-up to North I champions Kendal, Huddersfield went into a play-off situation against the runners-up from Midlands I, Luctonians, to seal a coveted place in National III North.
Five penalties and a conversion from the boot of fly-half Chris Johnson, added to a try from Nick Sharpe, was enough to start the celebrations at Lockwood Park with a 22-7 triumph.
It was the perfect end to a brilliant season for coach and Director of Rugby Mark Sowerby, who pledged to retire from playing following the play-off success, after helping his side to 19 victories out of 22 in their North I season.
And Sowerby’s team made a great start to their life in the National League with six wins and a draw in the first half of their new campaign among the big boys – with the coach having not quite retired!
There was also some notable success on the Huddersfield amateur rugby league front for Slaithwaite Saracens, who won the Pennine League Third Division title, the Holliday Cup and the Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy.
