Academy - NEWS

Amateur RU: Huddersfield Academy lose out in Yorkshire Plate final

May 6 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THERE was disappointment for Huddersfield Rugby Union Club’s Academy side after they went down 29-20 to Moortown in the final of the Yorkshire Plate.

After such a hard game only days before in the semi-final replay against Guisborough, it was probably a ‘game too far’ against the team who finished third in Division I.

The home side scored two converted tries in the first half, while the nearest Huddersfield came was a penalty attempt from Chris Brook which struck the left-hand upright.

The visitors were back in the game within two minutes of the start of the second half, when captain Jack Brannan touched down after Field won a line-out and drove over the line.

Tom Owen and Moortown’s stand off traded penalties, but then midway through the half came the killer blow, when the home side turned over a Huddersfield ruck and their open-side flanker broke away to score a converted try.

Back came the visitors with a second try for Brannan after the pack mauled their way over the line, but an intercepted pass gifted Moortown another converted score to give them an unassailable lead.

Franny Entressengle did score a late consolation try for Huddersfield, but although they kept pressing until the end, Moortown held on to lift the Plate.

Eight in the Plate!!

Huddersfield’s U19’s demolished 1st division runners –up, Guisborough; in an eight try rout in their Yorkshire Plate semi-final replay at Lockwood Park.

Huddersfield were aware that Guisborough’s main threat came from their forwards, so the home side tried to disrupt them and concentrate on a fast game to fully utilize the large pitch. The early skirmishes were evenly matched, but after three minutes Huddersfield were penalised for not rolling away and the visitors kicked the penalty goal. Three minutes later, Huddersfield scored arguably the best try of the match when flanker Billy Dempsey broke clear and fed No 8 Sam Scott he then returned the favour and Dempsey then released wing man Brad Gorman, he was tackled just short of the line, but not before he had passed to centre Tom van Rooyen, who scored by the right hand corner flag. Fly half Chris Brook secured the extras with a superb conversion kick. From the resultant kick-off Scott collected the ball and after slipping a number of tackles, broke through and scored under the posts. The extra points were kicked by full back Tom Owen. On the fifteen minute mark, the hosts were once again penalised for not rolling away and once again Guisborough elected to take the points and reduce the arrears. The deficit was further reduced five minutes later; following another penalty kicked to touch 5 metres out, Guisborough collected the line-out ball and mauled over the line for a converted try. With the difference in scores now being down to one point, it looked as if another close encounter was on the cards, (the previous match had been drawn 32:32), but It was Huddersfield who next extended their lead after 28 minutes. Quick ball from a line-out saw van Rooyen break through, but he was held up just short of the line. However, Scott was supporting and picked up the ball to score, Brook kicked the conversion. On the stroke of half time, Huddersfield’s back line pressurised their opposition and van Rooyen intercepted a pass to run in unchallenged, Owen adding the extras.

Half Time:  Huddersfield – 28, Guisborough-13

The heat of the day and the pace of the game seemed to quickly take its toll on the Guisborough players. Suddenly their pack, although still powerful, started to look vulnerable. Two minutes into the half, Huddersfield counter-rucked and from the resultant stolen ball, centre Charlie Brook powered through to score with Chris Brook (no relation) converting. Twenty minutes later, from another turnover, hooker Fran Entressengle (now playing at flanker), ran through before drawing the tackle and releasing Gorman to race fifty metres down the field to score with Owen adding the extras. With thirty minutes of the half gone, following a Huddersfield scrum, the ball went through hands to wing Matt Kinge who sidestepped the full back and score, again Owen converted. Finally, straight from the restart, Dempsey rounded off a superb performance by collecting the ball and after racing 40 metres, passed to Entressengle to score under the posts, again Owen converting.

Final Score: Huddersfield – 56, Guisborough – 13

The game was played in a good spirit by both teams and was enjoyed by the 200 or so spectators. Although the scoreline flatters Huddersfield a little (and doesn’t indicate the amount of hard graft employed by both teams), they thoroughly deserved their victory. There was exceptional work carried out by all the forwards with front rowers Joe Cheffins, John Birkett and Alex Battye facing up well to some stern opposition.

Huddersfield now progress to play Moortown in the final next Sunday (26thApril) at Moortown. The kick-off is at 12.30pm.

RU: Hudds U19s are Yorkshire champions

Apr 13 2009 by David Lockwood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD Rugby Union Club’s Under 19s have been crowned Yorkshire League Division II champions!

The Lockwood Park Academy side needed just one point from their final game at Wetherby, and they duly stormed to a 25-5 victory with a powerful second half performance to complete a perfect 100% League record.

Huddersfield were a bit subdued in the first half, possibly as a reaction to their gruelling Yorkshire Plate victory earlier in the week, which left the game evenly-balanced at half-time.

Despite having the majority of the early play, it was Wetherby who took the lead when, from a quickly-taken penalty, the home centre beat Huddersfield’s defence to cross for a try.

The visitors hit back on the half-hour mark, however, when, after another penalty award, a well-rehearsed move ended with winger Brad Gorman going over in the corner.

The second half was a different story, however, as fly-half Chris Brook put Field ahead with a penalty, and almost from the restart No8 Sam Scott collected the ball and broke clear, and he in turn fed on to Gorman and then received a return pass to score.

Ten minutes later and Scott was again alert and following a quick tap penalty, he broke through for his second try

And just before the final whistle, flanker Billy Dempsey jinked his way through the defence before releasing his supporting flanker Andy Schofield, who scored to wrap up the extra bonus point. Tom Owen added the conversion.

The Perfect Champions!!

Huddersfield travelled to Wetherby in search of the one point needed to clinch the Yorkshire Division 2 title.

Whether complacency set in, or a reaction to last week’s gruelling Yorkshire Plate encounter is not certain, but a very lack lustre first half performance ensured the game was evenly poised at half time. Despite having the majority of the initial play, Huddersfield found themselves behind when, following a quickly taken penalty, the ball was fed to the Wetherby outside centre who beat the defence to score.  However, after 30 minutes Huddersfield were level again from a penalty award, when a well rehearsed move saw wing Brad Gorman score in the corner.

Half time: Wetherby -5, Huddersfield – 5

Huddersfield took the lead 11 minutes into the second half when fly half Chris Brook kicked a penalty. Almost straight from the restart, the visitors stretched their lead, when No8 Sam Scott collected the ball and broke clear; he then fed Gorman in support, before receiving a return pass to score. 10 minutes later, Scott was again alert and following a quick tap penalty, he broke through for his second try. Finally, just before the final whistle, flanker Billy Dempsey jinked his way through the defence before releasing his supporting flanker Andy Schofield to score and gain an extra bonus point. . Full back Tom Owen added the conversion.

Full time: Wetherby -5, Huddersfield – 25

Huddersfield are crowned Champions with a perfect 100% league record of

Played 14, Won 14, with a points difference of 292