HUDDERSFIELD Barracudas edged past Rochdale Hornets by one point in a game which was settled by a super drop goal by new captain, Jimmy Johnson.

The 23-22 scoreline avenged Huddersfield’s 8-6 defeat in the reverse fixture at the Athletic Ground in January, and handed the Hornets their first defeat of the calendar year at Arena 84.

The high scoring reflected the defensive deficiencies of both sides, rather than a high degree of skill or attacking prowess, but Huddersfield had their moments.

If the scoreboard operatives were busy, then so were the ‘minders’ of the sin bin as four players were sent for cooling off periods in three separate incidents.

Aaron Sawyer was the first to take an enforced breather for a foul on fellow countryman Scott Hamilton, and both hookers, Phil Huck and Rochdale’s Andy Ruane, were sin-binned early for technical offences in the scrum.

Huddersfield were then reduced to 11 men for a short time, when Anthony Farrell was penalised for throwing a punch at Sawyer, and the visitors took advantage with a try from Mark Causey.

Jack Addy’s men had got away to a shocking start as Dean Williams and Sawyer himself scored tries in the first 10 minutes to give Rochdale a 10-0 lead.

Huddersfield tightened up considerably and had levelled the scores well before half time. Loose forward Simon Kenworthy put over a 14th-minute penalty goal and then Huck went over after David Wood slipped out a pass just short of the line.

Second rower, Frank Simpson, scored his first try for three years, although he almost made a hash of it. He ran and squeezed for the line, when it may have been wiser to give unmarked winger, Brian Lee, the chance to run in.

Early in the second half, fellow second row man Andy Dickinson made no mistake when he broke free and sent Anthony Edwards on a 60-yard run to collect his sixth try of the season.

The Hornets were no match for Edward’s pace, when a similar break by Johnson 10 minutes later set up the centre for another superbly worked try.

Kenworthy kicked both goals to make the score 22-14, but Rochdale were far from finished. Andy Ruane was held over the line on his back, but Wood pulled back a couple of points with a 72nd-minute penalty.

Then came the crucial moment. A 30-yard drop goal from Johnson, kicked from an angled position, prompted his teammates to mob him in celebration.

The drop goal provided the cushion needed to survive the visitors’ late rally, although there was a heart-stopping moment when Hamilton was called on to take a towering kick on his own line.

A second successive win, no matter how small the victory margin, was an encouragement for Huddersfield in their struggle to pull away from the foot of the table.

The Barracudas desperately needed to win against Fulham in their next match as they faced a particularly tricky run-in against the likes of Barrow, Oldham and Carlisle.

Huddersfield Barracudas: Hamilton, Lee, Farrell, Thomas, St Hilaire, Edwards, Meehan, Johnson, Huck (Cook), Wood, Simpson ( Fitzpatrick), Dickinson Kenworthy.

Rochdale Hornets: Sawyer, Cartwright, Garrity, Vaafusu, Causey, Wood, Dobson (Ruane, D) Barrow, Ruane(A), Cowie, Byron, Idle (Sanderson), Williams.

Referee: Geoff Berry (Dewsbury).

Attendance: 641.