Relegated Huddersfield RUFC ended their National II North campaign with a 40-14 loss at South Leicester.
The home side got their five points to remain in the division as a weakened Field side found it hard to cope.
Head coach Gareth Lewis’ side was again hit by numerous absences and was forced to only name three substitutes.
South Leicester started the game brighter and Field’s defence did well not to concede a try in the early stages, but they eventually broke and Leicester’s Christopher Gibbs scored after a scrum near the tryline.
Richie Alley kicked the conversion.
They doubled the lead when Gibbs scored his second of the game after he broke the line following another scrum – Alley converted.
Huddersfield had their first chance of a try soon after but lost possession, and when Ross Thornton was sent to the sin-bin Leicester took full advantage.
Oliver Scrimshaw caught the ball on the goal line, but the referee awarded a scrum from the restart and Gibbs completed his hat-trick.
South Leicester notched another converted try before the break, this time Blane Howe finding a way through.
Things got worse when Matthew Cooke and Andrew Gates each had tries converted, but Field restored some pride when Joel Hinchliffe scored a try with 15 minutes to go.
Hinchliffe converted from a tight angle and Lewis Bradley was on the scoresheet for Field for the second game running and Hinchliffe added the goal.
“We were hindered by the fact we only had three players on the bench due to illnesses and injuries,” said Lewis.
“It was always going to be difficult for the lads up for it and I think that reflected in the first half.
“They needed the five points to stay up and you could tell they wanted it by how fast they came out.
“The first half was really disappointing and I don’t think the referee managed the scrums particularly well.
“The standard of refereeing has been very good this season and it’s been our own indiscipline which
has let us down, but at Leicester it wasn’t great.
“In fairness to South Leicester, you do what you can to get away with things and they did that.
“I think as the game went on we dug in and gave some credit in the second half by scoring two tries.
“It’s the end of one chapter and we have to move on now. The lads are looking forward to the break before they’re back and re-energised.
“They will be raring to go next season. And there will be one or two new recruits coming through in the next few weeks too, so we are in progress as we prepare for next season in National III North.”
Huddersfield RUFC: Tom Kanauros; Elliot Knight, Tom Owen, Lewis Workman, Oliver Scrimshaw; Tom Hodson, Joel Hinchliffe; Adam Tamanis, Ross Thornton, Tom Baxter, Nick Rhodes, Declan Thompson, Lewis Bradley, Liam Parfitt, Nick Sharpe. Subs: Danny Grainger, Ed Birkhead, Henry Walker.
