THREE fine tries were the highlight as Huddersfield extended their unbeaten sequence to seven with a comfortable 22-3 North I victory at Darlington.

Coach Mark Sowerby felt it should have been even more comfortable than it was, admitting “it should have been 52 points” as they added a sixth League scalp to their one Cup victim.

“We missed out on at least four tries, that I can remember, but at least it was another win,” he said.

“And we know there is definitely more to come from the team, as we are still not yet playing to our full potential.’’

The result was never in doubt from the seventh minute, when powerful centre James Mortimore came on the run-around from a switch move and charged almost half the length of the field to open the scoring, stand-offChris Johnson adding the conversion.

Johnson and his opposite number then exchanged penalties before centre Lee Paxman crashed through Darlington’s defence to put the visitors 15-3 ahead at the break.

Even with a reshuffled side – hooker Chris Gough and winger Alex Shaw were both out of the reckoning because of work commitments – Huddersfield were never really threatened, and it was just a case of how many they would win by.

In the event, there was only one more score in the second half, when young replacement hooker James Davies crashed over, for a converted try.

“We created plenty of chances, and the opportunities were there, but we coughed up too many mistakes,” added Sowerby.

“Mortimore scored a really good try, but he should have had another, while Johnno was another to miss out on a certain try, as well as Gavin Rhodes.

“On the plus side, at least we are still winning, even though we may not be playing our best rugby, and we have beaten some good teams, such as Birkenhead Park and Cleckheaton.

“However, we are going to have to raise our standards and cut out the mistakes next weekend when Kendal are the visitors, because they will certainly punish us if we fail to take our chances.”

Huddersfield are now locked at the top of North I with Kendal on 12 points apiece, although the Cumbrians have a superior points difference with 139 as opposed to 47.

Huddersfield: Ainsworth; McLaren, Paxman (B), Mortimore, Paxman (L); Johnson, Clayton; Howard, Davies, Stringwell, Harris, Rhodes, Hinchliff, Whitehead, Sowerby. Subs: McPhail, Wilson, Summers.