HUDDERSFIELD Sharks and new coach Keith Senior made a winning start to their National Conference League Second Division campaign with a top 10-8 home triumph over Stanningley.

After having to apply for Conference League re-election last season, this was the perfect way for the Sharks to start.

And it was a win which showed the Syngenta-based side are not lacking in character as they held their nerve to secure this tightest of triumphs.

After a tense 40 minutes when openings were few and far between, the sides were locked at 2-2 with Dave Holmes and Stuart McGill exchanging penalties.

Holmes then marked his return to the club following a spell at Elland by nudging the home side ahead with a 50th-minute penalty.

But the decisive moment came a few minutes later when a superb break, dummy and side-step from stand-off Kevin Bower created the opening for prop Andy Branch to crash over under the posts for Holmes to add the extras.

With 10 minutes remaining, the vastly experienced Martin Wood helped orchestrate a converted try for Andy Rouse to set up a tight finale.

But with man-of-the-match Craig Denby, Bower, Mick Mellor, Ritchie Hawkyard, Bobby Bahadori and Richard Flookes all proving influential, the Sharks deservedly held on to secure the points.