Huddersfield were held to an 18-18 draw in their first home game of the new league season against Harrogate.
In a game of few tries but some excellent kicking by Huddersfield’s Joel Hinchcliffe, Harrogate rallied late on to break ‘Field hearts.
Huddersfield got on the scoreboard early on with Hinchcliffe converting his first penalty of the day after five minutes.
It didn’t take long for Harrogate to hit back and they scored the first try of the game after the ball broke from a line-out down the left-hand side, leaving the Huddersfield defence exposed, with the conversion being completed a minute later.
Huddersfield didn’t back down however and were awarded two penalties in quick succession, both converted by Hinchcliffe to put them 9-7 up.
However, Huddersfield’s Charlie Martin was then sin-binned for a shoulder charge just a few minutes after the second penalty, giving Harrogate a way back into the game.
Harrogate couldn’t take advantage and were a man down themselves for a similar offence on the stroke of half-time.
Huddersfield got off to a good start in the second half with another penalty being converted by Hinchcliffe.
Harrogate were then awarded two penalties of their own in quick succession with both being converted and the game becoming scrappy.
Hinchcliffe converted yet another penalty for Huddersfield to bring the score to 15-13 in their favour, with Harrogate then missing a pen of their own.
Harrogate were a man down for the second time as the referee saw another shoulder charge, with Hinchcliffe converting the resulting penalty.
Harrogate pressed as the game entered its final minutes, with Huddersfield holding out well.
However, they finally broke through with two minutes left on the clock after a sustained attack forced its way past the resilient Huddersfield defence for a try.
The resulting conversion was missed to leave the score at 18-18 with no time left for either team to go for the victory.
Huddersfield team:
Hodgson
Clarke
Mitchell
Martin
Walker (Sam)
Hinchcliffe
Jeffries
Battye
Thornton
Sanderson
Thompson
Rhodes
Malthouse
Hoyle
Sharp
Brown
Purcell
Walker (Henry)
Bills
Bird
