By D Whittle
Huddersfield travel to Percy Park this weekend as they look to keep the pressure on leaders Rossendale.
‘Field face the league leaders next week, but they must deal with Percy Park who have had a mixed start to the season. Park have picked up impressive wins over Billingham and Bradford, but have also been defeated by bottom side Firwood Waterloo.
With the varied form of their hosts season so far, Field know that this is not a game to be taken lightly.
Captain Nick Sharpe said: “We don’t know much about them, so we’ll just have to start well, conditions will probably be the same, so we’ll have to tighten the game up, kick into the corners and play a basic game plan and hopefully another bonus point win”.
Field are forced to make changes due to unavailability. Gareth Lewis and Jack Moon return to the starting line-up, as they replace Gavin Rhodes and Giles Hetherington, who both scored in the convincing win over Penrith.
‘Field also welcome back Laurence Sanderson who replaces Ed Birkhead, and Alex Brook makes the step up from the Falcons. Having already scored a hat-trick this season for the Falcons side, Brook will look to make the most of the opportunity before he turns 24 on Monday.
Manager Lee Paxman said: “This will be a real challenge for the lads. We have a few players unavailable and it will test our strength in depth. I have every confidence in the lads making the step up and `it is their chance to put a marker down”.
Two comfortable victories since their defeat to Sale, ‘Field will feel confident ahead of their trip north to the leagues seventh placed club.
Paxman said: “It is a long bus trip which we need to prepare for, the start will be massive so we must be ready for battle”.
As the first team travel away the Falcons are at home against Barnsley 2nd XV. The Falcons are also second in their division and looking for another home performance to lift them up to top spot.
They will be bolstered by the availability of Gavin Rhodes and Adam Sutcliffe who drop down from the 1st XV and with the return of tom Andrew at fly half.
The Falcons will also look to keep up the standards of their previous two home games, where they have scored 127 points and conceded just 5.
1. Alex Battye
2. Ben Morrill
3. Anthony Stringwell
4. Nick Rhodes
5. George Hinchliff
6. Gareth Lewis
7. Ben Hoyle
8. Nick Sharpe (C)
9. Joel Hinchliffe
10. Tom Hodson
11. George Hunt
12. Tom Owen
13. Michael Clark
14. Jack Moon
15. Elliot Hodgson
Subs:
16. Laurence Sanderson
17. Robert Sykes
18. Alex Brook
