Huddersfield RU 16
Leicester Lions 8
(National II North)
NOTHING breeds success, quite like success as Huddersfield exemplified when continuing their terrific start to the season with yet another historic victory.
For only 12 months after gaining their first-ever win at Kendal (and then walloping the same outfit to the tune of 41 points last week) they produced another typical gutsy, battling performance to grab their first-ever win over Leicester Lions.
And these are the sort of victories than only instil further confidence and self-belief into coach Dan Hyde’s young team as they go from strength to strength.
At times on Saturday it wasn’t pretty, but it was pretty effective as they ground out the hard yards in attack, while nullifying the attacking force of one of the divisions leading teams (they finished just outside the promotion places last season in third spot).
The first half was a tale of penalties with Chris Johnson giving Huddersfield an early lead when Lions were caught offside, before John Boden levelled it up 10 minutes later.
Winger Mike Clark was a trifle unfortunate to be pulled back after an adjudged forward pass, when left with a run to the line, while Johnson was narrowly wide with an attempted drop goal along with a second penalty shot.
But the fly-half did land two more place kicks to put his side 9-3 ahead before full-back Tom Andrews was unlucky not to collect a bouncing ball after an exciting run and chip.
On the stroke of half-time Johnson took a punt at a penalty from five yards inside his own half, gaining the distance but just pulling it to the left of the uprights.
Chris Duffy replaced Joel Hinchliffe at the start of the second half, while James Davies came on for prop Tony Stringwell.
Lions’ fly-half James Stokes was dispatched to the sin-bin for 10 minutes for interference, but rather than being able to take advantage, Huddersfield conceded points, when, from an attacking position on Leicester’s 22, they were intercepted and scrum half Nick Dangerfield raced 50 yards before linking with his winger, who in turn passed inside for centre Scott Morris to over to the right of the posts.
Surprisingly, Huddersfield were let off when kicker Boden missed the conversion to leave his side trailing by a point.
Hyde came on for George Hinchliff, who had earlier suffered a cut to the head, while Francis Entressengle replaced flanker Ben Hoyle, with the coach dropping in at No8 and skipper Nick Sharpe moving up to wing forward.
And Huddersfield’s reply was emphatic as within three minutes of the re-start following the Lion try, they were again back in Leicester’s 22, and this time Johnson slipped in a deft little kick behind the defence towards the corner and Adam Ryder barged winger Joe Marston out of the way before picking up the ball and diving over for a well-constructed try.
Johnson crucially landed the conversion from the touchline, courtesy of an ‘in-off’ from the right upright to put Huddersfield 16-8 in front, leaving Leicester needing to score twice with a little over 12 minutes remaining.
The visitors tried to stage a late rally, keeping the ball alive and throwing out a succession of passes, but Huddersfield’s defence line was impenetrable as time and time again the Lions were thrown back.
The only real chance they had of cutting the difference was a long range penalty from Stokes, who failed to find the target and Huddersfield cleared their lines.
This, their fifth win in eight outings, leaves Huddersfield firmly in fifth spot in the table with 26 points, and just two points behind Luctonians and Westoe who are currently joint second.
Next up is a visit to League newcomers Bromsgrove next Saturday.
Huddersfield: Andrews; Ryder, Owen, L Paxman, Clark; Johnson, Hinchliffe; Battye, Morrill, Stringwell, HInchliff, Rhodes, Hoyle, Lewis, Sharpe. Subs: Entressengle (64), Hyde (64), Davies (40), Duffy (40). Sutcliffe (not used).
Leicester Lions: Boden, Marston, Morris, Cross, Collins, Stokes, Dangerfield, Williams, Harris, Murray, Cheney, Soloman, Rudkin, Howgate, Gibbons. Subs: Healy, Williamson, Saxon, Dyment, Glover.
Referee: Matthew Daubney (Hull).
