HUDDERSFIELD enjoyed one of their best-ever seasons in 2011/12 finishing in sixth place in National II North – their highest-ever position in the club’s history, and going ever so close to reaching the final of the Yorkshire Cup once again.

But the big story coming out of Lockwood Park emerged at the end of the season, when the inspirational Chris Johnson decided to take up an offer to join Fylde in the division above Huddersfield.

And sadly that, along with a clutch of crucial injuries, left Huddersfield really struggling in the first half of the new season, going 12 matches before they gained their first victory, a 26-21 home win over Hull.

Towards Christmas, Huddersfield’s form began to improve and skipper Nick Sharpe is still hopeful his side can turn things round in the new year.

Meanwhile, the opposite applied at Laund Hill, where YMCA came off a very poor season – their first back in Yorkshire I having been promoted the previous year.

With only six victories in the entire campaign, they just escaped the relegation zone finishing 11th out of 14.

But with several excellent signings in the close-season,director of rugby Damon Scholes ensured their would be no repeat of the previous 12 months and they finished the year at the top of the table.