Huddersfield RU will have to be at the top of their game if they want to make it four wins from four against Billingham at Lockwood Park tomorrow (3pm).
Gareth Lewis’ side put on a fantastic second half performance to come away from Kendal with a 27-5 win thanks to tries from Elliot Hodgson, Adam Malthouse and Austen Thompson.
However, their next opponents Billingham put Firwood Waterloo to the sword 99-7 last weekend in one of the most one-sided games seen at National III North level.
The Teesiders ran in a stunning 15 tries, including hat tricks from both wingers Adam Radwan and Thomas Briggs, as they blew the Merseysiders away, and captain Peter Evans believes “that no one can touch them on their day”.
Huddersfield must look to build on from their faultless start so far as they look to make an immediate return to the National II North.
Head coach Lewis said: “To come away from home and take four points is obviously pleasing, but we must improve our composure in the final third and convert our try scoring opportunities,”
“The first half was not good enough. We were soft in the contact area and lacked tempo in our play. I let the lads know at half-time that it wasn’t good enough and they responded very well.”
There were more positives than negatives though, and Lewis gave special praise to his team including Chris Bell who has a very impressive 100 per cent kicking conversion after three games.
“I thought Bell controlled field position well and his kicking off the tee was first class,”
“Franny Entressangle and Nick Rhodes has struck up a real understanding in the line out as well which is providing us with a platform to attack, they both played very well at the weekend again.”
“Lewis Bradley carried the ball fantastically well all game and gave us go forward in the second half.”
Huddersfield have only conceded 29 points in the league so far, which is the lowest in the league.
Billingham head coach Chris Hyndman has seen his side score the most points as they took their tally to 145 for the season with the emphatic win.
They now have two bonus points with their victories, while the Field await their first bonus point.
Billingham beat Ilkley 29-16 on the opening day of the season, but were beat 30-17 Hull before their thumping victory at home.
The Field sit second in the table while Billingham are fifth, but both teams will know they can really put a push to top the table with a win.
Lewis added: “Billingham really put Firwood Waterloo to the sword last week so they will be high on confidence coming to Lockwood Park so we will need to stamp our authority of the game early.”
“We obviously need to be better than last week. We’ve worked hard this week on our decision making in the red zone, physicality around the contact area and our defensive organization.”
Lewis has made a few changes to his side, with Joel Hinchliffe and Danny Grainger returning to the starting XV. Thompson is also back in the starting line-up while Nick Sharpe starts from the bench.
Starting XV: Workman; Conway, Hodgson, Owen, Grainger; Bell, Hinchliffe; Malthouse, Hoyle, Bradley, Thompson, Rhodes, Battye, Entressangle, Tamanis. Replacements: Sharpe, Pollard, Sharples
HUDDERSFIELD YMCA are eager to continue their winning run in North I East.
As the Laund Hill club look to make an instant return to National III North, they will seek to extend their run of victories to three.
Their most recent two successes were both recorded by 27-20 scorelines with success away at Dinnington and then in their first home outing of the season last week against Malton & Norton.
