Excited Huddersfield YMCA can’t wait to play the first national league home game in the club’s history.
The men from Laund Hill will tomorrow host Firwood Waterloo (3.00) in an eagerly-awaited National III fixture.
It will be the highest standard of club rugby union ever played at the YMCA, with player-coach Mark Whitehead confident his side will rise to the occasion and build on last week’s encouraging and heartbreaking 29-24 defeat at Westoe.
“There were far more positives than negatives for us to take from that game,” said Whitehead.
“It was clearly a step up, with the extra pace of the game catching us cold at first.
“But once we got up to speed, we performed well and proved we belong at this level.
“That’s something we’ll take into this game against Waterloo.
“They’re obviously a well-established club in the national leagues and, having played against them on several occasions during my time at Huddersfield, I know they’ll be a quality side who are going to be tough to beat.
“But this is our first home game at this level and the boys have taken a great deal of confidence from what went on at Westoe last weekend.
“We know if we start strongly and make the most of the chances that comes our way – you don’t get that many at this level – then we can mark this historic occasion with a win.”
Whitehead has confirmed, however, that his side will take to the field with a number of notable absentees.
At the top of that list is experienced Tom Sharrock, who picked up a shoulder injury midway through the first half at Westoe, while a number of others are away on holiday.
“It’s disappointing this is the case,” added the influential forward.
“But our focus over the past couple of years has been to assemble a squad with more strength-in-depth, and it’s at times like this that it really comes to the fore.
“We know the players coming in won’t let anyone down. In fact, they’ll probably be even more fired-up, because they’ll want to prove to the coaching staff they should have been involved at Westoe last week.
“That’s a good position to be in.”
Huddersfield YMCA: Slater, Hill, Moore, J Housley, Bell, Stu Dyke, Hodge, Whitehead, Wilson, Wood, Bullock, Dalby, Ryder, Stead, Bentley. Subs: Nightingale, Van Royen, Willans.
