AN insipid second-half display led to Huddersfield’s first National III North reversal in seven outings at Leicester Lions as they slumped to a 16-9 defeat.

Having taken a 9-0 lead midway through the first half, thanks to two Chris Johnson penalties along with a drop goal from the influential fly-half, and having the best of the exchanges up front, everything seemed set fair for the visitors to rack up their seventh victory of the season.

But then came the half-time break – and everything suddenly went belly-up!

It was a complete reversal from the previous week, when they burst into life in the last 25 minutes to sink Loughborough Students with a stunning fightback.

On this occasion it was Huddersfield’s turn to freeze, as Leicester’s Lions roared back into contention in the final quarter of the game with two tries to take the spoils and send the visitors and their supporters back up the M1 with just a solitary bonus point to reflect on.

The home side gave away a string of penalties in the first half, with Johnson converting two of them in the first 18 minutes, while Leicester threatened just once when flanker Valentin Gari crossed the line, but knocked on in the process.

Huddersfield’s big second row Gavin Rhodes produced a terrific break which ended with Johnson popping over a drop goal, while another super break from hooker James Davies should have brought further points.

Skipper Mark Whitehead was quickly up in support and he whipped out a long pass to winger Adam Sutcliffe who was just tackled into touch two yards short.

Leicester’s No10 John Boden shaved the inside of the uprights to pull three points back with a penalty on 32 minutes.

But the home side were then quickly reduced to 13 men when second row John Harloch and centre Jody Peacock were both sin-binned inside a minute of each other as the under-pressure Lions conceded further penalties.

At that point Field really should have taken advantage, and at least should have opted to take a three-pointer in front of the sticks, but instead elected to run it, and consequently were held on the line after a series of drives, leaving them with just a 9-3 lead at the break.

Boden missed a second penalty attempt shortly after the restart, but he did land a 44th-minute shot to bring the difference back to just three points.

And then the momentum began to swing.

Huddersfield’s pack suddenly lost either technique or fitness (or both) and Leicester began to pile on the pressure, winning everything in the line-out and the set-piece which allowed their powerful threequarters to start cutting holes in the visitors’ defence.

So it was no surprise when, with eight minutes remaining, left winger Matthew Cook rounded the cover to cross in the left-hand corner and put the Lions ahead for the first time.

Although Boden missed the conversion, his side now had their tails up.

Huddersfield’s pack were now in total disarray and lost two scrums against the head inside Leicester’s half to put themselves under further pressure, and were further hindered by their sudden inability to catch a number of high balls.

With the final whistle imminent, the Lions were now rampant, and they sealed victory when full-back Gareth Collins burst into the line wide on the right to cross for his side’s second, decisive try.

Boden again missed the conversion (which ultimately allowed Huddersfield the consolation bonus point for having lost by no more than seven points).

There was still time for one last attack from Huddersfield, however, and they could so very nearly have snatched a draw when centre Lee Paxman burst through into Leicester’s 22, but sadly his pass failed to reach wingman Sutcliffe.

With a two-week break, Huddersfield’s coaching staff will be keen to work on fitness and their forwards’ power before they entertain high-flying Nuneaton at Lockwood Park on December 20.

Huddersfield: Shaw, Sutcliffe, Paxman (L), Mortimore, Johnson (M), Johnson (C), Clayton; McPhail, Davies, Stringwell, Hinchliff, Rhodes, Jacobsz, Whitehead, Sharpe. Subs (not used): Slater, Ramsden, Entressengle, Hanks, Sowerby.

Leicester Lions: Collins, Cook, Peacock, Cross, Alfield; Boden, Wright, Brown, Williamson, Moore, Kyte, Harloch, Gari, Howgate, Fraser. Subs: Parkin, Murray, Saxon, Rudkin, Marshall.

Referee: Matthew Daubney (Hull).