Huddersfield 13
Stockport 31
(National II North)
A BRACE of tries from Huddersfield’s leading League try-scorer, Tom Owen, was not enough to prevent his side sliding to yet another defeat as their disappointing season rumbles on to its now inevitable conclusion.
With fit (and able) bodies now at a premium, Dan Hyde’s relegated troops contained too many stand-ins and not enough stand-outs as they played second fiddle to a side just one place above them in the division.
Hyde was forced to play more than half the game himself, while Chris Duffy was deployed as an emergency full-back, Tom Andrews was called into the problem fly-half spot, and there were second-half run-outs for the returning David Hall and Stephen Wilson.
But with the exception of Owen there was little penetration anywhere across the park when Huddersfield had possession, and in defence there were gaping holes all over the place, especially down the flanks, where Elliott Knight and Ollie Scrimshaw struggled to contain attackers at this level.
That said, the first two tries conceded came through the middle with Stockport prop James Flynn on the end of a driving maul in the 11th minute for a try converted by full-back Josh Longmore, while the second saw No8 Nick Smith step through a huge hole following an inside pass in the 28th minute, again converted by Longmore.
In between, Owen scored the first of his two tries, which in all fairness, was probably the best try of the match, as the ball was swiftly worked out wide, from where centre Mike Clark and Scrimshaw combined to send Owen high-stepping his way through the remnants of defence to score a very good try.
Tom Andrews failed with the conversion but did add a later penalty to keep his side in touch at half-time when Stockport took a 17-8 lead in with them.
Lawrence Sanderson and Ross Thornton replaced Tony Stringwell and Hyde 11 minutes into the second half, before Stockport wrapped up the points midway through the half when an aimless Andrews kick was returned with interest.
Longmore combined with his backs and sub Mike Baysaat brushed off Knight for an easy score.
Huddersfield briefly hit back with Owen’s second try after a great long ball from Duffy, but further feeble tackling enabled Baysaat to grab a second try for the visitors, and the game was up for another week.
Huddersfield: Duffy; Knight, Clark, Owen, Scrimshaw; Andrews, Hinchliffe, Battye; Murphy, Stringwell, N Rhodes, Sharpe, Hinchliff, Entressengle, Hyde. Subs: (all used) Sanderson, Hall, Thornton, Wilson, Brook.
Referee: Guy Steele-Bodger (Rugby).
