Hudds RU .... 23 Rugby Lions ....16
HUDDERSFIELD produced one of their best halves of rugby this season to secure a valuable victory over a very useful Lions side at Lockwood Park on Saturday.
There were a few anxious moments – not least before the game, when the Rugby Lions coach was reluctant to play on a first-team pitch which was pretty solid down the stand side until just before kick-off.
But with sun streaming over the viaduct, commonsense prevailed and the match went ahead on time, although after three minutes it was Huddersfield’s turn to be concerned.
For after a strong run down the wing by home hooker James Davies, Rugby took the lead, when a quick tap penalty caught Huddersfield napping and winger Jeff Gregson shot down the sideline, beating full-back Tom Owen to scoot round the posts for an easy seven points.
Huddersfield were quick to respond, however, with second rower Gavin Rhodes prominent as they went back on attack and when Rugby were pulled up Chris Johnson landed the first of three penalties.
In fact Johnson was back to his imperious best, both with his place kicking and his kicking out of hand which was excellent and repeatedly pushed the Lions back into their own half whenever they threatened.
Lloyd Warner landed a 15th minute penalty for the Lions, but on the next play Huddersfield were level.
And again the try came from a quickly-taken tap which caught the defence unawares as No8 Dan Hyde played the ball to himself and charged forward for the initial burst before the ball was worked across left and winger Donovan van Vuuren went over in the corner.
Johnson landed a brilliant touchline conversion to level the scores at 10-10 and suddenly it was all Huddersfield.
Three minutes later they were over again, this time thanks to a Rugby blunder from a hoisted Johnson kick which was spilled by the full-back, and Huddersfield’s young winger James Wood burst in-between three of the visitors, gathered the ball and sprinted 40-odd yards to go under the sticks, leaving Johnson the simplest of conversions.
And on the half-hour mark Johnson extended the lead to 20-10 with his second penalty which was how it remained at the break.
Unfortunately the second half never lived up to the first 40 minutes, with Rugby seeing more of the ball and cutting the deficit thanks to two Warner penalties.
But Huddersfield were resolute in defence, and a 67th minute penalty from Johnson rounded off the scoring and ensured a very welcome four points.
Huddersfield: Owen; Wood, Johnson, Paxman, Van Vuuren; Duffy, Clayton; Slater, Davies, Stringwell, Rhodes, Harris, Sharpe, Lewis, Hyde (Whitehead 69). Subs: Entressengle, Battye, Hinchliff, Van Rooyen.
Rugby Lions: Warner, Gregson, Young, Carruthers, Harris, Reed, Barker, Williams, Price, Pateman, Weaver, Braband, Saunders, Munro, Nash. Subs: Spokes, Walton, Carney, Marston.
Referee: Brendan Fitzmaurice (Middlesbrough).
Huddersfield’s win lifted them above Broadstreet, to fourth bottom in National II North.
