HUDDERSFIELD PICKS UP OPENING WIN
Huddersfield Academy v Doncaster Knights
Castle Park
29th September 2013
The clubs Academy team travelled to Doncaster Knights confident of turning the two previous losses around, with what looked more like a strong team and offering a debut to the clubs new signing, ex Huddersfield Giants Academy winger Jordon Higo.
Having had tight games in the past, this was always going to be a ding dong and so it turned out. Huddersfield’s set piece providing some better ball to the talented Huddersfield backs soon paid dividends when a ball off the back of the scum fed excellent Huddersfield centres Danny Grainger and Chris Cooper who put flyer Jordon Higo away. He had plenty to do, but covering some 60 metres his pace and evasive running left a number of would be tacklers in his wake. A memorable first try for Higo, from his first touch of the ball. Workman converted.
Not long after Higo scored his second try, this time following excellent approach play from the Huddersfield team. Miles Prescott winning excellent ball of the top of the lineout allowed storming Elliot Clemson to drive hard into the Doncaster territory. From the resulting breakdown, Workman showed excellent hands to put Jordan Higo clear to beat his man to score his second try. This time Workman missing the conversion.
Doncaster kicked a couple of penalties to keep the scores close.
In the second half Doncaster Knights were particularly keen to use their strong forwards to drive mauls off their lineout, which Huddersfield successfully kept at bay, but for one successful drive off the fringes to score, which Doncaster converted. The Huddersfield scoring was completed by centre Chris Cooper, following a break by Lewis Workman, feeding Cooper to gallop under the posts.
A competitive game in hot dry conditions showing a different approach from the two teams, Huddersfield’s stronger backs measuring up against Doncaster’s big forward pack.
Huddersfield’s defence was excellent to keep out a number of Doncaster’s attempted driving mauls, but it would be Jordan Higo stealing the show with two amazing tries. Huddersfield held on to complete a win notwithstanding an massive penalty count awarded against them by the referee.
Final score, Huddersfield Academy 19 – Doncaster Knights Academy 13
WEAKENED ACADEMY FALL TO TOP-OF-THE-TABLE BRODS
Huddersfield Academy v Old Brodleians Academy
Lockwood Park
6th October 2013
The game was always going to be tough and not necessarily one that the Huddersfield coaching team had targeted for a win, however 11 players unavailable made the job even tougher. With “one off” guests Sam Gill (back from University), Chris Tait and Jake Houlaghan, Huddersfield took the pitch.
The Olds Brodleians used their strong runners from the outset to batter the Huddersfield defence line. To their credit Huddersfield tackled well and scrambled back to ensure that the Brods had to work hard for their tries.
Huddersfield’s first half try came from winger Jordan Higo and if his debut tries the previous week were good, this one was special. Receiving the ball early, he ran a full 75 metres, easily beating the un-expecting winger before outstripping the strong Brods centres and backrow covering defence to a great try.
Brods continued to dominate play, using a physical dominance to open up the Huddersfield defence line.
Huddersfield’s second half try went to Danny Grainger, playing his first ever game at “10”, he charged down a kick to gather and score.
A difficult afternoon got worse at the end when impressive fullback Lewis Berry, after making an excellent clean line break minutes earlier, picked up an ankle ligament injury in a tackle.
The Huddersfield lads can take lots of positives away from this game, not least their ability to keep the ball and excerpt pressure on the opposition for lengthy spells of the game. However in the closing analysis, the Brods forwards in particular were too strong for their patched up counterparts.
Final score, Huddersfield Academy 10 – Old Brodleians Academy 46
Next league game v Wharfedale (away) 13 October 2013
