HUDDERSFIELD’S ‘big two’ will battle it out in this season’s Holliday Cup final.
Holders Slaithwaite Saracens and arch Pennine League Premier Division rivals St Joseph’s booked their place in the Easter Monday Lockwood Park showdown with impressive semi-final triumphs.
Joe’s gained revenge for last season’s Holliday Cup defeat against Division I side Emley Moor at Fartown with a comfortable 52-12 triumph at the Welfare Ground, while Slaithwaite cruised to a 50-6 victory at Fifth Division Meltham All Blacks.
Moor were hoping to put up stiffer resistance, but with injuries taking their toll, they were never able to match their top-flight foe.
That was also the case for the All Blacks, who were always expected to struggle against the Saracens, particularly as the visitors were desperate to bounce back from last week’s disappointing Premier Division loss to Halifax Irish.
For the opening 10 minutes, the home side were in the contest, but then Slaithwaite began to score at will as the Meltham defence struggled to deal with their opponents’ attack.
Jadon Wood was the first to score out wide and these were followed up by further first-half efforts from Ryan Johnson, Shaun Mitchell and Danny Garside, who also added three conversions.
But, credit to the All Blacks, who refused to wave the white flag and crossed for a try of their own just before the break to make it 22-6.
Yet as soon as the second half got under way, the Saracens were back into their stride.
Tom Guinan struck within minutes of the restart, with Garside converting, and further tries followed from Simon Burkinshaw, Guinan, Mitchell and Johnson.
Garside landed three more goals to complete an emphatic victory and set up one of the most an eagerly-awaited finals in years.
