Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club

2 days ago

𝗛𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝟯𝟴-𝟭𝟰 𝗧𝘆𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗲....𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

𝘍𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘬

Huddersfield scored four tries in a dazzling first half display against Tynedale in Round 11 of their National 2 North campaign at Lockwood Park. The match ended 38-14 to Huddersfield, their biggest win of the season.

'We dominated the game for long periods,' said Huddersfield's delighted head coach Gaz Lewis. 'Our back three constantly returned with interest and we generated quick ball in attack. Joe Potter, at scrum half, controlled the ball well and although we dropped off in the second half we finished the match strongly.'

The none stop first half action began straight from the whistle. Tom Hodson, who dictated wonderfully at full back, set winger Kian Stewart on his way with Potter in close support. Potter took the pass and cruised in for a try under the posts. Milner added the extras, starting a faultless run of five conversions with the simplest of strikes.

Tynedale were back on terms five minutes later. Scrum half James Telford took a sniping tap and go from a midfield penalty and after a couple of phases winger Seamus Hutton went in for a try in the corner which was converted by James Blackett.

For the next half hour Field put on a scintilating show and added three more tries, including a brace by prop Callum Thompson, to secure an attacking bonus point. An excellent break by Number 8, Rob Jennings, ably supported by the industrious Eddie Brown, set Thompson up for the first of them.

Field had to show their mettle in defence for a spell after the score but when they broke out of it try number three followed. Hodson was the architect, taking a penalty tap before setting off on an illusive run up the right wing. When he ran out of space he grubbed through and Fin Stewart won the foot race to dot down.

On the half hour a penalty took Field to the Tynedale 22. The catch from the lineout was clean and the pack produced a magnificent, high paced, marching maul all the way to the try line. Somehow Tynedale managed to prevent the grounding of the ball but the home side maintained their onslaught from the goal line drop out. Thompson rounded off the good spell with his second try from a catch and drive from a lineout.

The first half ended with an injury to Huddersfield hooker Liam Stapley, forcing his retirement from the game, and the score at 28-14.

The rugby highlights in the second half came at the beginning and end of it, with play in between becoming an attritional battle that got quite scrappy at times.

Tynedale doubled their score with a try three minutes in. A penalty gave the visitors territorial advantage and full back Adam Todhunter rounded off an eye pleasing passage of play with the score which Blackett converted.

Field responded positively to the early set back. A breakaway move by Milner, Lewis Bradley and Lewis Workman put them back on the front foot but the chance of a score ended with a disappointing knock on.

Midway through the half tempers flared and three yellow cards in as many minutes disrupted the flow of the game. First to go were Field's replacement hooker, Ethan Myers, and Jennings. Thirteen man Field did well to keep Tynedale at bay as they pressed hard close to the try line. Hutton's dismissal for Tynedale evened things up and the home side managed to survive and clear their lines.

A Milner penalty on 51 minutes eased fears of a Tynedale comeback with a classy try at the death putting the icing on the home side's cake. With the 80 minutes almost up Fin Stewart made a superb solo break from half way. With support runners well placed to continue the move Milner rounded things off with the try and conversion.

Next week Huddersfield travel to Sheffield, hoping to maintain their good form. The South Yorkshire side are just two places above them in the table and have lost their last six matches.

Huddersfield: Hodson; Stewart K, Workman, Law; Stewart F, Milner; Potter; Thompson; Stapley; Sanderson; Pearson; Brown; Parfitt; Bradley; Jennings. Replacements: Effiom; Rollins; Myers; Lee; Jones.

Written by Richard Sykes. ... See MoreSee Less

Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club

2 days ago

𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝟮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝟮𝟱-𝟭𝟳 𝗔-𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺....𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Another miserable Saturday, another jaunt over to a club in Leeds. I’ve probably played there before but if I have it doesn’t come to mind. Probably just the Alzheimers kicking in! Luckily I’ve never had concussion, well not that I can remember anyway. Although 2000-2010 are a mystery to me.

It’s the first time in my 4 years as captain, that I’ve been present but unable to lead out the A-Team. Last Sunday my wife smiled sweetly at me and asked me to perform my husbandly duties. I tried, I really did but I couldn’t even get up. So sadly I failed to do the washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning! Don’t ever marry a feminist! She just shook her head and told me she wasn’t mad…. but she was disappointed! Nothing I don’t hear regularly about most aspects of my marriage. Then I was told to consider my imminent retirement. Luckily I don’t pay any attention to that lunatic! So having two shoulders that are in constant pain and drastically reduce the movement of my arms, now joined by my right knee flaring up is no reason to quit! I just have to be aware that so much as a stubbed left toe may be fatal, or at least reduce me to a jibbering pile of spasming scar tissue. So I’ve decided to leave it til the second half to make an impact!

We had a strong team before the Friday night cry offs. So once again it was going to be a tough old fight in the mud, a big hindrance to the electric paced, champagne rugby we normally produce. We had once again decided to go with the cunning plan of playing without any recognised half backs. That’ll completely fool ‘em! After seeing both Steven ‘Spike’ Rothery and Chris Duffy hang up their boots this year. Bailey Hartg the A-Team ‘Head of Students’ tried his hand at 10 and Toby Styles, normally flank or wing tried to combine both to play scrum half.

We had a big pack to be led by replacement leader ‘Captain Cook’, whilst with the absence of Duncan Cleave, Eddie Newman received the honour of leading the back line. Will Greenan player on the wing for his first game back in three years. Eddie Newman returned to full back so he could stand at the back shouting clueless nonsense. Just as he did as a goalie in his professional football career! It was a well oiled machine that spread fear into the hearts of any All Blacks coach.

So once again the board was set and the game was in the hands of the gods. They kicked off deep and we began to drive it back till an unfortunate offload was intercepted and they broke through the line. Luckily hard working forward Sam Dunger got back to prevent the try. We fought off the following attack and things looked pretty good. Ben Royds, playing 8, was highly dominant at the lineout and our scrum led by Captain Cook and Joe Shiel was very strong. We applied ample pressure and on the 10 minute mark Shiel scored the first try of the game. A simple drive over from 5 yards out. Bread and butter for the handsome prop forward. Eddie Newman our 6th kicker of the year stepped up and hooked the kick left of the uprights.

We went again and the game looked one sided. On 20 minutes Eddie Newman crossed out wide after a shimmy from Bailey, on his debut at 10, made space before slick hands got the ball to Newman. Newman once again just missed the conversion, if only he had practised his footballing skills!

We dominated another scrum and their tight head couldn’t continue. So we were ordered to also go down to 14 men. It was then announced it would be unopposed scrummaging. They applied some pressure and managed to score and convert.

Things started to get worse then as Eddie Newman our powerful no nonsense full back, had to come off with a hamstring injury. Just before the stroke of half time they scored again.

We went into the break losing 12-10. Completely against the run of play. Second half, playing up the slope was going to be interesting.

The second half kicked off and they scored within a minute. Their seven squeezed through a gap then dribbled the ball three times to score. They converted the try. Then our players woke up. A powerhouse performance from Andrew Jiri who was outstanding all day. He made at least 5 sacks (tackles behind gain line or knock attacker over backwards) and was powerful going forward from 12. Joe Carter also had several runs but the colossal man is happy with the ball, but sadly is allergic to rucking.

We then attacked and Bailey scored his first try for the A-Team after a neat show and go. Sadly Ben Royds went down with a twisted knee. So Eddie who was hopping mad, hopped onto the field. A true hero!

We attacked again and Eddie got the ball and he hopped left, he side hopped right. He made a hopping good half break. Then when he finished he hopped straight back off the field. Announcing that he definitely can’t play with only one hamstring, who knew?

For the last ten minutes our lads tired and they managed to kick a couple of penalties to take the game out of reach.

Burley 25-17 HRUFC A-Team

Man of the Match Andrew Jiri
Strong performances from Ben Royds, Joe Shiel and Sam Dunger. Valiant effort from Eddie Newman.

Another under strength A-Team performance where we were so close. Sadly I was unable to play any part due to severe softie syndrome. Big thanks to Joe Shiel the only non-regular player who turned out for us. His throwing was excellent on the day and contributed well around the field.

Written by George Hinchliff

#HRUFC #UTF ... See MoreSee Less