HUDDERSFIELD clinched the Yorkshire Cup for the first time since 1890 with a superbperformance against the odds when defeating Hull at York last night.
Despite being down to 12 men at one stage with three men in the sin-bin, and a 19-9 penalty count against them, Huddersfield dug deeper than they have done all season with a tremendous display.
Four penalties and a drop goal from Chris Johnson – and second-half tries from Lee Paxman and James Wood – sent the large travelling band of Field supporters wild with delight.
Leading 9-6 at half time in their first final appearance since 1970, when they lost to Bradford, Johnson’s fourth penalty extended the lead before Hull’s No8, Rob Devonshire, brought it back to a one-point game with a try in the corner.
Back came Field, and hooker Ben Morrill’s blockbusting run set up the position from where Lee Brown sent Wood racing over.
Oliver Cook scored for Hull to keep the game alive, but when Lee Paxman picked the ball off the back of a line-out and ran 40 yards for Huddersfield’s second try, the Cup was almost in their grasp.
And although Tom Owen, on for the sin-binned Johnson, hit the woodwork with his conversion attempt, Johnson returned to seal the victory with a late drop goal and start the celebrations.
The first half was very much a tale of penalties – the bulk of which went Hull’s way.
Hull fly-half Greg Lound gave the Humbersiders an eighth-minute lead with a penalty from straight in front of the posts, but Johnson levelled two minutes later (Hull were offside).
Huddersfield then put together a good spell of pressure, started by a strong run from Kiwi winger Simon Pratt. The ball was crossed to the opposite wing, stretching Hull’s defence, but when it was moved back into the centre, five yards from the line, scrum half Joel Hinchliffe’s back-hand flick failed to find a Huddersfield hand. Johnson put the Lockwood Park men in front with a 22nd-minute penalty, which shaved an upright but dropped in.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Lound responded three minutes later to level the game at 6-6.
A third penalty from Johnson gave Field an interval advantage of three points, but they had to defend stoutly for the last 10 minutes of the half with 14 men, after Gareth Lewis was sent to the sin-bin.
The second half was strewn with yellow cards, with Gavin Rhodes, James Davies and Johnson all following Lewis into the sin-bin.
It mattered not, however, as they clinched victory in superb style, defending magnificently.
Huddersfield – Hall, B Paxman, L Paxman, Pratt, Johnson, Hinchliffe, Battye, Morrill, Stringwell, Brown, Rhodes, Hinchliff, Lewis, Sharpe. Subs: Lancaster, Slater, Clayton, Clark, Owen.
Hull – Martinson, Piercy, Greene, Martin, Robinson, Lound, Hardisty, Longbone, Plevey, Fullman, C Murphy, P Murphy, Devonshire, O Cook, Lewis. Subs: Lamping, Foxton, Dorrington, D Cook, Bagnall, Campbell.
Referee – Jonathan Owen (Central Yorkshire).
