Huddersfield YMCA lost 23-5 in testing conditions against an uncompromising Billingham side.
The Laund Hill men took an unchanged team to Teeside but lost influential scrum-half Simon Wilson, who tweaked his hamstring in the warm-up.
Slick handling was never going to be the order of the day and Billingham’s ability to control the ball and get their backs moving gave them the edge in what was otherwise a well-contested match.
The YM were penalised early for failing to release the ball in the tackle, allowing home full back Evans to pop the ball over from directly in front of the posts.
Under increasing amounts of pressure YM started to give away penalties and from one foray the home side won the ball at the lineout, made good ground and created the space for stand-off Evans to go in at the corner.
More pressure followed, resulting in a yellow card for YM’s Edwards and a penalty for the opposition.
A quick tap saw home No.8 Dixon barge his way over the line for Billingham’s second try.
Evans could not master the wind to add the extras but the score stretched to 13-0.
The YM came back and were in the opposition’s 22 when the ball was spilled. Billingham quickly recovered and ran it through the hands, making good ground before a speculative grubber kick was sent far upfield with assistance from the wind. With the YM defence having to turn, the Billingham winger Hopley had the edge and won the race for the ball to get the touchdown.
Once again it was mission impossible to land the conversion and the home side went in 18-0 to the good at half-time.
With the turnaround the YM had the advantage of the wind but could not capitalise, with a number of lineout opportunities going begging.
Eventually the visitors did manage to find some space for the backs and Adam Ryder went on a strong run, collecting defenders as he went.
He eventually created a gap for Emsley on the wing, who took Ryder’s pass and dashed for the line to get the YM on the board.
Stead’s conversion missed by the narrowest of margins to make it 18-5.
Things started to boil over and as another forward confrontation unfolded Billingham second-row Armstrong was dismissed with a red card.
The YM didn’t have the numerical advantage for long as Starbuck was yellow-carded for a high tackle.
The two sides continued to slug it out up the middle of the field with some uncompromising hits going in from both sides, but eventually Billingham came up with the best try of the day.
They managed to get the ball out wide to left-winger Radwin, who was yards faster than the defence as he raced along the touchline for a well-made try.
Once again the kick was a near impossibility and the scoring was complete at 23-5.
As the game ticked towards the end an unsightly confrontation between the forwards led to YM’s Saif being red-carded for throwing a punch, despite a number of players from both sides joining the melée.
Huddersfield YMCA: Wood, Pooloogoda, Emsley, Ryder, Stead, Ledgard, Fletcher, Slater, Wrafter, Moore, Housley, Edwards, Hodge, Starbuck, Bell. Substitutes: Dyke, Saif.
