(National II North)
AN alarming pattern is developing at Huddersfield, as once again they contrived to slip to defeat against what could only be described as modest opposition.
After hauling themselves back into the game from a 14-3 deficit to lead at half-time, they came out for the second half with a clueless display and gifted the opposition enough chances to inflict a fourth successive defeat as they continue to slide down the table.
Too many knock-ons, too many wrong options and certainly too much aimless kicking underlined a worrying trend which has afflicted Huddersfield’s game since their last victory over Fylde at the beginning of October, all of which led coach Mark Sowerby to observe: “We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot!”
Chris Johnson gave Huddersfield an early lead with a penalty, but a searching run from Westoe’s fly-half Charlie Rayner would have brought an opening score but for a good tackle from Huddersfield full-back Tom Owen.
The visitors’ No10 however, did cross the line on 14 minutes, when full-back Dan Rayson hit a glaring gap in the home defence and popped up a pass to Rayner, which he juggled with before finally clutching the ball and touching down for a try which he also converted.
Huddersfield almost hit back with hooker James Davies starting a move, carried on by Johnson, but his pass to Mark Whitehead was well forward unfortunately, as the skipper had a clear run to the line, but then came the first of the gifts, as Lee Paxman found himself stranded, lost the ball and with Huddersfield up in support, Westoe winger James Walker raced away down the touchline before drawing Owen and off-loading to his supporting centre James Clark to cross the line unopposed, Rayner adding the extras.
A super run from winger Adam Sutcliffe set up Huddersfield’s next attack, and they began to exert some pressure on the visitors line, with scrum half Damian Clayton getting on the scoreboard after 32 minutes following a series of rucks.
Johnson failed with the conversion but at least Huddersfield began to play with some conviction and two minutes before the break No8 Dan Hyde burst through the middle of the park, the move was carried on by Whitehead before the ball was worked out to the right and Nick Sharpe sent in winger Adam Ryder by the corner flag.
This time Johnson’s conversion attempt sailed through the middle and the Lockwood Park men went in at the interval 15-14 to the good and seemingly with renewed confidence.
Sadly, however, it was Westoe who took the bull by the horns from the restart, and with skipper Gareth Nesbit prompting operations from prop, the pack started to boss Huddersfield in the set-piece and it was no surprise when, with only four minutes gone, they hit the front again, this time from a catch-and-drive which ended with No8 Michael Ellery going over.
Rayner again added the extra points.
Huddersfield took off Whitehead in exchange for Gareth Lewis, while Ben Paxman, a replacement for the injured Donovan van Vuuren in the first half, linked up well with Owen on a rare attack, which again fizzled out because of poor handling.
And with 13 minutes to go, the home side handed Westoe yet another gift, when just inside their own half and trying to force a pass, they only succeeded in popping up an interception which centre Mark Olugbodie gratefully accepted and blazed away for his side’s fourth try, which Rayner again converted.
Alex Battye and Tom van Rooyen came on for the last 10 minutes for Sam Slater and Sutcliffe, while Westoe skipper Nesbit also came off, and suddenly Huddersfield began to find more solidity in the scrum.
Hyde made another break as Westoe suddenly found themselves penned inside their own 22, and finally after being held up over the line once, Lee Paxman finished off a series of drives to cross on the final whistle.
Sadly, the usually reliable Johnson pulled his conversion attempt, thus missing out on a bonus point (for having lost the game by a margin of only seven points) which just about summed up Huddersfield’s disappointing day.
Huddersfield: Owen; Ryder, Van Vuuren (Paxman B 32), Paxman (L), Sutcliffe (Van Rooyen 70); Johnson, Clayton; Slater (Battye 70), Davies, Stringwell, Harris, Hinchliff, Sharpe, Whitehead (Lewis 60), Hyde.
Westoe: Rayson, Clark (C), Clark (J), Olugbodie, Walker; Rayner, Judson; Nesbit, Elliott, Cookson, Robinson, Bird, Burnham, Myers, Ellery. Subs: Mutchal, Tennet, Sheilds.
Referee: Dave Edmunds (The Wirral).
