GAVIN RHODES is back in a full-strength Huddersfield RU side against Loughborough Students at Lockwood Park tomorrow (3.00).
The big second rower has recovered from injury and is a welcome addition to Mark Sowerby’s side, who are looking to get back to winning ways in National III North.
Huddersfield have lost seven of their eight matches since Christmas, but Sowerby believes they can now get back on track after last weekend’s break, when the match against Kendal was called off because of Chris Johnson’s appearance for the English Counties at Twickenham.
“We are sending out pretty much the strongest side we can tomorrow and we are obviously looking for a solid home win,” said Sowerby.
“When we played down at Loughborough earlier in the season they were a typical student side, running the ball around and pretty quick, and it was only when our extra physical size took over that we managed to get the better of them.
“So we know we’ll have to be on our guard tomorrow but, even though we lost at Preston Grasshoppers two weeks ago, I was pleased with a lot of what we did and the signs were generally positive going into this game.”
On performance, director of rugby Sowerby added: “Our failure of late has been making too many basic errors. We’ve been conceding knock-ons and penalties and silly little things which, increasingly at this level, we are finding our opposition taking advantage of.
“Teams of this quality are able to capitalise, so we have to eliminate as many of those mistakes as possible and finish the season as well as we can.”
Huddersfield – McPhail, Davies, Stringwell, Rhodes, Harris, Jacobsz, Whitehead, Sharpe, Hinchliffe, Johnson (C), Clark, Mortimore, Paxman (L), Shaw, Paxman (B). Subs: Slater, Gough, Johnson (M), Sharrock, Ramsden.
